Abstract A short, scalable and environmentally benign synthesis of 2-and 4-substituted benzylpiperidines has been developed. The method is based on the temperature- programmed consecutive deoxygenation and heteroaromatic ring saturation of aryl (pyridin- 2-yl)-and aryl (pyridin-4-yl) methanols and aryl (pyridin-4-yl) methanones in the presence of Pd/C catalyst. The crucial roles of the temperature, the acidity and the substrate structure ...