Radical-mediated nitrile translocation as the key step in the stereoselective transformation of 2-(4-chloro-2-cyanobutyl)aziridines to methyl cis-(1-arylmethyl-4-phenylpiperidin-2-yl)acetates.

Non-activated 2-(4-chloro-2-cyano-2-phenylbutyl)aziridines were used as building blocks for the stereoselective synthesis of novel cis-2-cyanomethyl-4-phenylpiperidines via a microwave-assisted aziridine to piperidine ring expansion followed by a radical-induced nitrile translocation through initial formation and subsequent cleavage of intermediate bicyclic iminyl radicals. Furthermore, these 2-(cyanomethyl)piperidines were shown to be eligible substrates for the preparation of methyl cis-(1-arylmethyl-4-piperidin-2-yl)acetates through a Pinner reaction using gaseous HCl in methanol.