Diastereoselective Synthesis of 2,3,6-Trisubstituted Piperidines

We report the diastereoselective and chromatography-free syntheses of four 2-phenyl-6-alkyl-3-aminopiperidines. Ring construction was accomplished through a nitro-Mannich reaction linking a nitroketone and phenylmethanimine, followed by a ring-closure condensation. Relative stereocontrol was achieved between C-2 and C-3 by kinetic protonation of a nitronate or by equilibration of the nitro group under thermodynamic control. Stereocontrol at C-6 was accomplished by utilizing a variety of imine reduction methods. The C-2/C-6-cis stereochemistry was established via triacetoxyborohydride iminium ion reduction, whereas the trans relationship was set either by triethylsilane/TFA acyliminium ion reduction or by Lewis acid catalyzed imine reduction with lithium aluminum hydride.