The formamides 7 were rapidly (1 h) cleaved with methanolic hydrogen bromide (10 equiv) at reflux temperature. Thus, the a-benzyl compounds 8 (R= Ph, 3, 4-OCH20CeH3, PhCH2CH2; R'= PhCH2) were isolated as the crystalline hydrobromide salts in 94%, 95%, and 77% yields, respectively. Inasmuch as the a-formamido ketones 6 are easily prepared in three steps from the bromo ketones 3 (see Scheme I and the Experimental Section), the ...