Synthesis of .alpha.-substituted 1,2-benzenedimethanamines

Two complementary methods for the preparation of α-substituted 1,2-benzenedimethanamines have been described. The N-substituted benzamide approach can be useful when the N-substituent on the phthalazinone is large; however, it does not have the versatility of the phthalazinone approach. In reducing the phthalazines with borane, a novel cleavage of a N-N bond has been encountered