Wolff-Kishner-Huang redn. of the cheap 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinone provides the expensive 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, the precursor to lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide, in high yield. As specified in the detailed protocol, the reaction can be conveniently carried out on a >10 mol lab. scale. [on SciFinder (R)]