Lonza Ag

Didier Loetscher

Walter Brieden

Andrew Brian Naughton

1-Acyl-4-arylpiperidines of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an aryl group optionally substituted by one or more C.sub.1-6 -alkyl groups, C.sub.1-6 -alkoxy groups, benzyloxy groups or C.sub.1-6 -alkylthio groups and/or one or more fluorine atoms, and R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-6 -alkyl group, a C.sub.1-6 -alkoxy group, an optionally substituted aryl group, alkylaryl group or a benzyloxy group optionally substituted on the phenyl radical. The 1-acyl-4-arylpiperidines of formula I are prepared by reacting an arylmagnesium halide with a 1-acylpyridinium halide, obtainable from pyridine and an acyl halide, in the presence of a copper compound to give the corresponding 1-acyl-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridine, and hydrogenating the latter. The 1-acyl-4-arylpiperidines are intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceutical active ingredients, for example, neurokinin receptor antagonists.

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Leuk-Stadt, Switzerland

Didier Loetscher