Formylation of Secondary Amines with Dialkyl Acetals of Dimethylformamide

Abstract
The product of the reaction of dialkyl acetals of N, N-dimethyl-formamide with desipramine has been found to be N-formyldesipramine, and not the N-ethyl derivative as reported earlier. Evidence for the structure was obtained from NMR, IR and mass spectra of the compound as well as comparison with N-formyl and N-ethyldesipramine prepared by alternate routes.