The Enders SAMP/RAMP hydrazone alkylation begins with the synthesis of the hydrazone from a N,N-dialkylhydrazine and a ketone or aldehyde
The hydrazone is then deprotonated on the α-carbon position by a strong base, such as lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), leading to the formation of a resonance stabilized anion - an azaenolate. This anion is a very good nucleophile and readily attacks electrophiles, such as alkyl halides, to generate alkylated hydrazones with simultaneous creation of a new chiral center at the α-carbon.
The stereochemistry of this reaction is discussed in detail in next section.