H. Heaney et al., LANTHANIDE TRIFLATE CATALYZED-REACTIONS OF ACETALS WITH PRIMARY AMINES AND CASCADE CYCLIZATION REACTIONS, Synlett, (6), 1998, pp. 640
The formation of imines from acetals and primary amines can be carried
out at significantly lower temperatures using scandium or lanthanide
triflates as catalysts, than in the absence of a catalyst: the interme
diate aminol ethers can also take part in cascade cyclisation reaction
s, for example using tryptamine and ethyl tryptophanate.