Synthesis of trans-4-aryl-3-(3-chloropropyl)azetidin-2-ones and their transformation into trans- and cis-2-arylpiperidine-3-carboxylates

Treatment of arylmethylideneamines with 5-chloropentanoyl chloride in benzene in the presence of 2,6-lutidine afforded novel trans-4-aryl-3-(3-chloropropyl)azetidin-2-ones in good yields. The latter 3-(3-chloropropyl)-β-lactams were transformed selectively into trans-methyl 1-alkyl-2-arylpiperidine-3-carboxylates in high yields and purity upon subsequent treatment with hydrogen chloride in methanol and triethylamine in dichloromethane. These trans-1-alkyl-2-arylpiperidine-3-carboxylates were easily converted into either their cis-isomers upon treatment with hydrazine monohydrate in methanol, or into the corresponding piperidine-1,3-dicarboxylates by reaction with alkyl chloroformates in benzene. Finally, 3-(3-chloropropyl)-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-phenylazetidin-2-one was transformed into the corresponding trans-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-(4-methoxybenzylcarbamoyl)piperidine via a three-step sequence in a good overall yield.