One-pot multicomponent synthesis of highly functionalized piperidines from substituted β-nitrostyrenes, Meldrum's acid, aromatic aldehydes, and ammonium acetate.

An efficient and straightforward synthetic protocol has been developed for the diversity-oriented synthesis of highly functionalized piperidines containing a Meldrum's acid moiety via pseudo five-component reaction between aromatic aldehydes, ammonium acetate, substituted β-nitrostyrenes and Meldrum's acid for the generation of a wide range of structurally interesting and pharmacologically significant compounds.