Savarin Cécile G, Boice Geneviève N, Murry Jerry A, Corley Edward, DiMichele Lisa, Hughes Dave
Department of Process Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Company, P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
Org Lett. 2006 Aug 31;8(18):3903-6. doi: 10.1021/ol061318k.
An improved protocol for N-acetyl enamine formation is disclosed which involves LiBr-mediated addition of MeLi to substituted nitriles. The resulting enamides are isolated in high yields and excellent purity which permits subsequent hydrogenation at very low catalyst loading.