CAN-mediated oxidative cleavage of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydroxypiperidines

A CAN-mediated oxidative cleavage of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydroxypiperidines 2Aa-Be to β-amino carbonyl compounds 3Aa-Be and 4Aa-Be in different ratios is described. This facile strategy was also used to synthesize racemic fluoxetine (5).