Piperazine (/paɪˈpɛrəziːn/) is an organic compound with the formula (CH2CH2NH)2. In term of its structure, it can be described as cyclohexane with the 1- and 4-CH2 groups replaced by NH.[3] Piperazine exists as deliquescent solid with a saline taste. Piperazine is freely soluble in water and ethylene glycol, but poorly soluble in diethyl ether. Piperazine is commonly available industrially is as the hexahydrate, (CH2CH2NH)2·6H2O, which melts at 44 °C and boils at 125–130 °C.[4]
Piperazines were originally named because of their chemical similarity with piperidine, part of the structure of piperine in the black pepper plant (Piper nigrum).[7] The -az- infix added to "piperazine" refers to the extra nitrogen atom, compared to piperidine. It is important to note, however, that piperazines are not derived from plants in the Pipergenus.
Piperazine is formed by the ammoniation of 1,2-dichloroethane or ethanolamine. This reaction is mainly used for production of ethylene diamine, but piperazine is a side product.[8][9] The piperazine is separated from the product stream, which, in addition to ethylenediamine, also contains various derivatives containing CH2CH2NH subunits, e.g. diethylenetriamine, aminoethylpiperazine, and other related linear and cyclic chemicals of this type.
Its basicity is that of a typical amine. Tthe pH of a 10% aqueous solution of piperazine is 10.8–11.8. The two pKb's are 5.35 and 9.73 at 25 °C.
Piperazine readily absorbs water and carbon dioxide from the air. Carbon dioxide produce a series of carbamates.[11] Some of the relevant equilibria are:
HN(CH2CH2)2NH + CO2 ⇌ H2N+(CH2CH2)2NCO−2
2 HN(CH2CH2)2NH + CO2 ⇌ HN(CH2CH2)2NCO−2 + HN(CH2CH2)2NH+2
H2N+(CH2CH2)2NCO−2 + CO2 ⇌ HO2CN(CH2CH2)2NCO2H
As a basic amine, piperazine forms a variety of coordination complexes, usually binding to metals as a unidentate ligand (bidentate binding would require the boat conformation). One example is the polymer [CoCl2(piperazine)]n, which features tetrahedral cobalt centers linked by bridging piperazine ligands.[12]
Piperazine is easily N-alkylated. Depending on conditions mono- or dialkyl derivatives are obtained.[13]
Piperazine was marketed by Bayer as an anthelmintic in the early 20th century, and was featured in print ads alongside other popular Bayer products at the time, including heroin.[14] In fact, a large number of piperazine compounds have an anthelmintic action. Their mode of action is generally by paralysingparasites, which allows the host body to easily expel the invasive organism. The neuromuscular effects are thought to be caused by blocking acetylcholine at the myoneural junction. This action is mediated by its agonist effects upon the inhibitory GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) receptor. Its selectivity for helminths is because vertebrates use GABA only in the CNS, and the GABA receptor of helminths is of a different isoform from that of vertebrates.[15]
Piperazine hydrate, piperazine adipate and piperazine citrate (used to treat ascariasis and enterobiasis[16]) are the most common anthelmintic piperazine compounds. These drugs are often referred to simply as "piperazine" which may cause confusion between the specific anthelmintic drugs, the entire class of piperazine-containing compounds, and the compound itself.
Two common salts in the form of which piperazine is usually prepared for pharmaceutical or veterinary purposes are the citrate, 3C4H10N2·2C6H8O7 (i.e. containing 3 molecules of piperazine to 2 molecules of citric acid), and the adipate, C4H10N2·C6H10O4 (containing 1 molecule each of piperazine and adipic acid).[4]
Many notable drugs contain a piperazine ring as part of their molecular structure. They may be used as antiparasitic drugs.[17] Other examples include:[18]Diethylcarbamazine, a derivative of piperazine, is used to treat some types of filariasis.
Piperazines, such as BZP and TFMPP were common adulterants in the club and rave scene, often being passed off as MDMA, although they do not share many similarities in their effects.
^Rochelle, Gary; Chen, Eric; Freeman, Stephanie; Wagener, David V.; Xu, Qing; Voice, Alexander (15 July 2011). "Aqueous Piperazine as the New Standard for CO2 Capture Technology". Chemical Engineering Journal. 171 (3): 725–733. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2011.02.011.
^Yu, Jie-Hui; Hou, Qin; Wang, Tie-Gang; Zhang, Xiao; Xu, Ji-Qing (2007). "Structure Characterization of 1:1 Sdducts of Metal(II) Halides and Piperazine". Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 180 (2): 518–522. Bibcode:2007JSSCh.180..518Y. doi:10.1016/j.jssc.2006.10.028.
^Craig, J. Cymerman; Young, R. J. (1962). "1-Benzylpiperazine". Organic Syntheses. 42: 19. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.042.0019.