Base-controlled diastereodivergent synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-substituted-4-alkylidenepiperidines by the Wadsworth-Emmons reaction.

Significant base and reaction time effects have been observed in the Wadsworth-Emmons reaction between a chiral 2-substituted-4-oxopiperidine and phosphonates. In the reactions carried out using a large excess of DBU as the base and prolonged reaction times, the initially formed 2R products epimerized into thermodynamically more stable products through a retro-conjugate/conjugate addition sequence and 2-substituted-4-alkylidenepiperidines of 2S configuration were selectively synthesized. In contrast, when the reaction was carried out using LDA as the base, epimerization did not occur and 2-substituted-4-alkylidenepiperidines of 2R configuration were obtained with excellent yields.