The Leuckart reaction with 4-t-butylcyclohexanone

Abstract

The Leuckart reaction of 4-t-butylcyclohexanone with ethyl-, isopropyl-, and t-butyl-amines gives mixtures of 1 β-alkylamino-4β- and 4α-t-butylcyclohexanes in yields of about 65%, but is less satisfactory with methylamine (34% yield). While the isomers with an axial alkylamino-group are the major products, the proportion of the equatorial compound increases as the group becomes bigger: with t-butylamine the isomers are formed in almost equal amounts.