Abstract Alkylation of the lithium dienolate of the monic acid hydroxamate (3) with o-bromo (bromomethyl) benzene or heteroaromatic derivatives gave α-alkylated products (5). This alkylation procedure was surprisingly catalysed by 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Metal-halogen exchange with t-butyl lithium occurred with concomitant intramolecular cyclisation to give a mixture of the deconjugated ketones (6). Reconjugation with potassium t-butoxide ...
