A new strategy for the preparation of heterocyclic β-amino esters: orthogonally protected β-amino esters with a piperidine skeleton

A simple strategy is presented for the introduction of a nitrogen atom into the carbocycle of an aminocyclopentenecarboxylic ester via dihydroxylation of the olefinic bond, followed by NaIO4-mediated cleavage of the diol intermediate and ring expansion, resulting in new regioisomeric 3-amino-4-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives. This method permits the preparation of amino esters with a piperidine skeleton in enantiomerically pure form.