beta-amino acids to piperidinones by petasis methylenation and acid-induced cyclization

[GRAPHICS] Ester-imine derivatives of beta-amino acids were methylenated with dimethyltitanocene under microwave irradiation and the resulting enol ethers cyclized with Bronsted acid or triisopropylaluminium to give 2,6-syn-disubstituted piperidinones in good yield and diastereoselectivity. The method is analogous to the Petasis-Ferrier rearrangement of 1,3dioxan-4-ones to give tetrahydropyranones