Abstract Benzotriazolides 1 of alkanoic acids with one hydrogen atom in α-position to the carboxamide group can be deprotonated with lithium diisopropylamide or lithium hexamethyldisilazanide to amide enolates 2 which condense at− 90 to− 95 C with ketones or aldehydes 3 to afford benzotriazolides of O-lithiated β-hydroxylalkanoic acids 4. These reactive carboxamide derivatives cyclize with elimination of lithium benzotriazolide to the ...