Expedient Access to 2,3-Dihydropyridines from Unsaturated Oximes by Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation

alpha,beta-Unsaturated - oxime pivalates are proposed to undergo reversible C(sp(2))-H insertion with cationic Rh (III) complexes to furnish five-membered metallacycles. In the presence of 1,1-disubstituted olefins, these species participate in irreversible migratory insertion to give, after reductive elimination, 2,3-dihydropyridine products in good yields. Catalytic hydrogenation can then be used to. convert these molecules into piperidines, which are important structural components of numerous pharmaceuticals.