Tertiary 3-Aminopropenones and 3-Aminopropenoates: Their Preparation, with and without Lewis Acids, from Secondary Amines and 1,3-Diketo Compounds

A direct method for the preparation of tertiary 3-amino-propenones and 3-aminopropenoates from β-diketones and β-keto esters, and secondary amines has been developed. The reaction is performed without solvent in the presence or absence of Lewis acid as catalyst, depending on the reactivity of both the amine and the diketo substrate.