Copper ion catalyzed carbon–carbon bond forming reaction of N-acyliminium ions with diaryl malonates was achieved with high enantioselectivity. The key intermediates in the method were 2-methoxy-3, 4-didehydropiperidines, which were easily prepared through electrochemical oxidation of 1-(p-methoxybenzoyl) piperidine in methanol followed by the conversion of the oxidation product to didehydropiperidine derivative, which was ...
