Nucleophilic addition to imines is one of the most important carbon−carbon bond formation reactions for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. For example, Lewis acid catalyzed imino aldol reactions of silyl enol ethers with aldimines are a useful method for the preparation of β-amino esters, which are readily converted into β-lactams and amino acids. 1 α,β-Unsaturated aldimines are also employed as electrophiles in not only imino aldol reactions 2 but also ...