Grob fragmentation of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene: tool for the stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted piperidines.

The Grob fragmentation of azabicyclo[2.2.2]octene leads to a dihydropyridinium intermediate. This highly reactive species reacts with a variety of organocuprates and other soft nucleophiles in a regioselective manner, allowing for the rapid and stereoselective synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. The resulting products were either reduced in situ to the corresponding piperidine or used to achieve the stereoselective construction of various nitrogen heterocycles.