Preparation of nitriles and thioamides of fused ring pyridine derivatives

Nitriles and thioamides of fused ring pyridine compounds such as 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines are prepared from metal derivatives of the starting compounds such as 8-lithio-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines which have been prepared by treating a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline with a metal amide prepared in situ from a metal alkyl and an N-benzylidine-N-alkylamine.