A series of 2-ketimines and 2,7-diketimines of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (proton
sponge, DMAN) have been obtained and converted into the corresponding ketones via
acidic hydrolysis. Investigation of structural and spectral properties of DMAN-based
imines led to the conclusion that their unusual hydrolytic stability results from
a combination of different factors the most important of which is a strong electron-donor
effect of peri-dimethylamino groups.
Key words
amines - imines - hydrolysis - ketones - organometallic reagents