the resultant imine which is produced from this reaction is simply hydrolyzed in aqueous acid to produce the desired aryl piperidyl ketone 18.0 or 18.1.
The metalated species and nitrile can be interchanged so that the piperidine is metalated (formula 12.0) and the aryl compound is substituted with the nitrile (formula 15.0 or 15.1).