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.