Racemic 2,3-diaryl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) derivatives are synthesized from the readily accessible piperazines in 50–64% yield by cyclization using ethylene bromide, triethylamine, and KI at 80 °C. The enantiomerically enriched 2,3-diphenylpiperazine and the 2,3-bis(1-naphthyl)piperazine derivatives are prepared by a resolution method using commercially available optically active acids
in methanol, give the corresponding chiral exo amino alcohol and diamine derivatives in good yields (75–95%). d-(–)-Camphorquinone imines prepared using methanolic ammonia, ethanol amine, exo-(–)-bornylamine, ethylene diamine, propylene diamine, and trans-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, upon reduction using sodium borohydride in methanol, give the corresponding chiral exo amino alcohol and diamine derivatives