The Reformatsky reaction with 4-methoxy-N-(2, 2, 2-trifluoroethylidene) aniline (1) proceeds under mild conditions to yield ethyl 4, 4, 4-trifluoro-3-(N-4-methoxyphenyl) amino-2- alkylbutyrate (5) and 4-trifluoromethyl-3-alkyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone (6) as the main products. Similarly, the reaction of diethyl malonate with 1 in the presence of sodium hydride affords a high yield of ethyl 4, 4, 4-trifluoro-3-(N-4-methoxyphenyl) amino-2- ...