Rate enhancement with high ratio of the monoalkylated product to the dialkylated product in the alkylation of the lithium enolate of 1-tetralone withreactive alkyl halides

The reactions of the lithium enolate of 1-tetralone with reactive alkyl hal ides were examined in the absence and in the presence of 3 eq of various li gands for the lithium. It is shown that the rates of the reactions are enha nced greatly in the presence a tetradentate amine (1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyl triethylenetetramine), and the ratio of the monoalkylated product to the di alkylated product is increased under shorter reaction times.