Directed ortho-lithiation strategies have been applied in the synthesis of the dopamine D-2 antagonist (5')-6-amino-5-bromo-2, 3-dimethoxy-N-((1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidiny1) methyl) benzamide (NCQ 318). The secondary 8-amino side chain was found to be a powerful ortho directing group which enabled the direct introduction of the amino group after dilithiation with n-BuLi. Alternatively, 3, 4-dimethoxy-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl) aniline was ...