Synthesis of novel β-dialkylamino-α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethylketones containing cyclobutene fragment and their reactions with organolithium and Grignard reagents

The highly reactive trifluoromethylenaminoketones, with a strained cyclobutene and norbornadiene moieties were firstly prepared from the corresponding β-halogeno-α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethylketones in almost quantitative yields. The ambident properties of these compounds in the reactions with organolithiums were discovered. The simple methods to control the selectivity of 1,2- or 1,4-addition of lithiated nucleophiles have been investigated.