Diastereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted piperidines: a versatile synthon for elaboration of uncommon poly(aza)heterocyclic structures

Hetero Michael addition on chiral β′-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketone furnished, after some structural modifications, β,β′-diaminoketals. Mannich type reaction of these diamines with an aldehyde led, with a high diastereoselectivity, to trisubstituted piperidines. Starting from a functionalized aldehyde and after subsequent deprotection of the amino group, an intramolecular Michael addition provided octahydro-2H-pyrrolo-[3,4-b]-pyridine, an uncommon framework found in compounds exhibiting biological activity.