Enantiocontrolled synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines by desymmetrization of meso-eta-(3,4,5)-dihydropyridinylmolybdenum complexes. application to the total synthesis of (-)-dihydropinidine and (-)-andrachcinidine

A conceptually new approach to the enantiocontrolled synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines was achieved by desymmetrization of meso-2,6-dimethoxy-eta-(3,4,5)-dihydropyridinylmolybdenum complexes. After protection of the piperidine nitrogen as a urethane derived from (+)- or (-)-trans-2-(alpha-cumyl)cyclohexyl (TCC), a sequential, one-pot methoxide abstraction/nucleophilic addition/methoxide abstraction/nucleophilic addition generated good yields of 2,6-disubstituted-eta-(3,4,5)-dihydropyridinylmolybdenum complexes. This sequence proceeds by way of a highly diastereoselective methoxide abstraction (>40:1). High yielding protodemetalation and N-deprotection provided a simple and enantiocontrolled synthetic entry to a variety of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines. This new method was used for the total synthesis of (-)-dihydropinidine and (-)-andrachcinidine.