EtOH, 25" C, 72 h. carbanion of a trialkyl methanetricarboxylate, and then amidated with an appropriate multifunctional amine, such as tris (hydroxymethy1) aminomethane (" tris"). Subsequent transformation of the hydroxyl groups to better nucleofuges would allow repetition of the process; however, the nucleophilic displacement of such leaving groups (Le. bromide) by a C-nucleophile does not readily occur under" reasonable" reaction ...
