The optically pure 2-benzylpiperidine 4 obtained from synthon 2-cyano-
6-phenyloxazolopiperidine (-) 3 via the CN(R, S) method, gave after N-
alkylation, the dibenzylpiperidine 5 which was cyclised to 2a under no
n-phenolic VOF3 coupling conditions. Treatment of hydroxylated dibenzy
l piperidine 8 with RuO2 furnished the unexpected benzoquinolizidine 9
.