Asymmetric Synthesis of Aryl 2-Piperidyl Methanols from a Chiral α-Aminonitrile Precursor

Abstract
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure phenyl 2-piperidyl methanols from a convenient chiral α-aminonitrile 1 is described. Reaction with aldehydes of the anion generated from 1 leads to threo (αR, 2R) products, whereas treatment of 1 with organolithium reagents affords erythro (αR, 2S) compounds.