Abstract N-Benzoylamides of 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine are not ortholithiated by organolithium compounds but instead undergo nucleophilic addition of the organolithium compound to the aromatic ring in the manner of a conjugate addition. The resulting dearomatised enolates may be protonated or alkylated, and yield substituted cyclohexadienes in yields of up to 76%. Deprotection of the piperidine ring is possible ...