Abstract Benzaldehydes react smoothly with nonstabilized azomethine ylides, generated in situ from sarcosine/formaldehyde or N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(trimethylsilylmethyl) benzylamine, to give 5-aryloxazolidines as intermediates. These were converted into 2- (alkylamino)-1-arylethanols in good yields by simple heating in methanol with hydrochloric acid, or by treatment with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol.
