Abstract A concise (5 to 6 steps), stereodivergent, highly diastereoselective (dr up to> 19: 1 for both stereoisomers) and scalable synthesis (up to 14 g) of cis-and trans-2-substituted 3- piperidinols, a core motif in numerous bioactive compounds, is presented. This sequence allowed an efficient synthesis of the NK-1 inhibitor L-733,060 in 8 steps. Additionally, a cyclodehydration-realizing simple triethylphosphite as a substitute for triphenylphosphine ...