Naphthalene-catalysed lithiation of phenone imines in the presence of carbonyl compounds: Preparation of 1,2-aminoalcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)87249-5

The lithiation of different phenone imines 1 with an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount (8 mol %) of naphthalene in the presence of several carbonyl compounds 2 in tetrahydrofuran at temperatures ranging between -78 and 20°C leads, after hydrolysis with water, to the corresponding 1,2-aminoalcohols 3 in moderate yields.