Application of the PMC Protecting Group in the Efficient Synthesis of 4,4‐Disubstituted Piperidines

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of the 4,4‐disubstituted piperidine scaffold 1 was accomplished by treating the PMC N‐protected α,β‐unsaturated ethyl cyanoacetate 9 with various Grignard reagents (R1MgX). Subsequent heating at 190°C in a strong base provided carboxylic acids 12–20b in good yield. The PMC group was easily removed at room temperature with 33% HBr in acetic acid.