The Michaelreaction of chiralimines 1–3, derived from aromatic ketones’ with substituted electrophilic olefins generated asymmetric tertiary carbon centers. Nevertheless, asymmetric inductions were weaker than those usually observed with cycloalkanone imines.
The condensation of active methylene compounds 1 with acetaldehyde was efficiently promoted by a catalytic amount of lithium bromide in the presence of acetic anhydride to give ethylidene malonates 2 in 77-97% yield.