Reaction of methylcerium reagent with tertiary amides: Synthesis of saturated and unsaturated ketones from tertiary amides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00959-9

The reaction of CeCl₃-MeLi to tertiary amides has been studied. The reagent prepared from cerium(III) chloride and methyllithium at 0°C adds cleanly to morpholine amides to give the corresponding methyl ketones. Even in the presence of a large excess of the reagent, no tertiary alcohol formation is observed, indicating that the tetrahedral intermediates are stable under the reaction conditions employed.