The mannich reaction-II : Derivatization of aldehydes and ketones using dimethyl(methylene)ammonium salts

Aldehydes and ketones have been converted efficiently to their corresponding Mannich products by various dimethyl(methylene)ammonium salts under a range of reaction conditions. The several methods used to form these derivatives are compared. Excellent approaches to aldehyde derivatives involve treating the enol silyl ether of the carbonyl compound with methyllithium and then an iminium salt, or directly adding the iminium salt to the enol silyl ether. Ketones may be derivatized effectively by treatment with potassium hydride, followed by an iminium salt, or from the enol silyl ether by addition of the iminium reagent. Use of iminium reagents in the Mannich reaction is recommended because the yields are often good and the site of attachment on an unsymmetrical ketone is both predictable and controllable.