Alkoxycarbonylpiperazine-2, 5-diones are versatile precursors for the α-functionalisation of piperazine-2, 5-diones. The alkoxycarbonyl group activates the α-carbon position to alkylation reactions and this provides a mild and selective method for the extension of the carbon framework of piperazine-2, 5-diones. In addition, the alkoxycarbonyl group can be converted to the carboxy group, which in turn can be 'deleted'or manipulated for the ...