Unsubstituted and 6, 7-dialkoxy-N-pivaloyl-tetrahydroisoqu~ nolines 1-3 are converted to l- bromomagnesium derivatives by sequential treatment with 1-BuLi (-75"/THF) and MgBrz. 0Et2. Addition of the metalated tetrahydroisoquinolines to aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes occurs with relative topicity ul (Scheme 2). The I-hydroxyalkylated 2-pivaloyl- tetrahydroisoquinolines a of u-configuration thus obtained (14 examples) can be ...