Vicarious nucleophilic substitution in enamine derivatives of 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2,4-dicarbaldehyde

The reaction of aromatic amines with highly stable Schiff base enamines formed from an alkyl amine and 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2,4-dicarbaldehyde resulted in nucleophilic substitution of the alkyl amine with the aromatic amine in ethyl alcohol at room temperature within 1–2 min. This reactivity, regioselectivity and formation of stable derivatives are due to extra stabilization through extended conjugation in these systems.