Table 1. Addition of lithium N-methylanilide 2a to ethyl benzoate 1a in various molecular solvents and eutectic mixtures ^a .

Entry	Solvent	LiNMePh b [eq.]	Yield c [%]
1	THF d	2	93
2	2-MeTHF	3	80
3		2	81
4		1.5	80
5		1	78
6	1ChCl/2Gly	3	83
7	1ChCl/2EG	3	59
8	1ChCl/2H2O	3	81
9	1LiCl/3Gly e	3	79
10	H2O	3	36
11	Gly	3	85
12		1.5	79

^aReactions performed in air at ambient temperature using 1 g of solvent and 1 mmol of ester. Reactions stirred for 20 s, then quenched with sat. Rochelle's salt soln. (5 mL).

^bLithium amide was added as a 1 M soln. in 2-MeTHF.

^cIsolated yields are given.

^dLithium amide 2a was added as a 0.2 M soln. in THF.

^eReactions carried out at 53 °C due to viscosity issues.