Hydroalkylation of imines by cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene

Reactions of N-arylmethyleneanilines with cyclohepta-l,3,5-triene in the presence of anhydrous zinc(II) chloride in tetrahydrofuran result in the formation of N-aryl-N-arylmethyl-l-(2,4,6-cycloheptatrienyl)amines, which are readily hydrolysed to the corresponding N-arylmethylanilines.