Dialkylhydrazides for directed orthometalations

Dimethylhydrazides are shown to be excellent substrates for the directed orthometalation reaction. The advantage of using the hydrazide is that it is easily removed by treatment with H5IO6 or CuCl2 to give the carboxylic acid under very mild conditions, in contrast to other amides that generally require harshly acidic conditions to achieve hydrolysis.