Efficient, stereodivergent access to 3-piperidinols by traceless P(OEt)3 cyclodehydration.

A stereodivergent and highly diastereoselective (dr up to >19:1 for both isomers), step economic (5-6 steps), and scalable synthesis (up to 14 g) of cis- and trans-2-substituted 3-piperidinols, the core motif of numerous bioactive compounds, providing efficient access to the NK-1 inhibitor L-733,060 is presented. Additionally, a "traceless" (referring to the simplified byproduct separation) cyclodehydration realizing simple P(OEt)3 as a substitute for PPh3 is developed.