Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyridines via Tf(2)O-mediated Grob fragmentation: access to indolizidines (-)-209I and (-)-223J.

Herein we describe the γ-amino hydroxide Grob fragmentation of the aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene 1 using triflic anhydride as the activating agent. The resulting dihydropyridinium ion can react with a wide variety of Grignard reagents, giving access to 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyridines (2) with high regio- and stereoselectivities. This methodology has been applied to the short synthesis of natural indolizidines (-)-209I (3) and (-)-223J (4).