An expedient synthesis of 6-arylpiperidine-2,4-diones by chain-extension of β-aryl-β-aminoacids

The synthesis of novel 6-arylpiperidine-2,4-diones is described in five steps starting from beta -aryl-beta -aminoacids via the chain extension of the latter into delta -aryl-delta -amino-beta -ketoacids. The chemical pathway involves an acylation of Meldrum's acid and yields useful building blocks for heterocyclic chemistry. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.