A Fluorenyl Activating Group Enables Addition of Simple Grignard Reagents to C=N Electrophiles

Nucleophilic addition of organometallic reagents to ketimines and hydrazones can be a challenging transformation. Here we report the use of fluorenone-derived mixed azines which promote facile addition of Grignard reagents. The fluorenylidene activating group is easily installed and removed, thereby offering practical access to highly substituted amines and hydrazines.