Stereocontrolled synthesis of polysubstituted piperidines from vinylogous Mannich adducts and aldehydes

Condensation of readily available 5-(aminoalkyl)furan-2-ones, derived from the Mannich-type reaction between 2-silyloxyfurans and acyliminium ions, with an α-unsubstituted aliphatic aldehyde leads to substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines in a process involving an enamine conjugate addition. Reduction of the tetrahydropyridine double bond then affords 3,4,5-tri- or 3,4,5,6-tetra-substituted piperidines stereoselectively.