A novel synthesis of α-aminoaldehydes from glyoxal monoacetal

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1990-27128

Primary and secondary amines condense with benzotriazole and glyoxal monoacetal to give N-substituted 1-(benzotriazolyl)-2,2-diethoxyethylamines 4, which with Grignard reagents readily yield the corresponding 2-aminoalkanal diethylacetal 5. These are easily hydrolyzed to produce α-aminoaldehydes 6.