Abstract The electrophilic reactivity of α, β-unsaturated amides towards weak nucleophiles such as arenes and cyclohexane, initiated either with triflic acid (CF 3 SO 3 H) or with excess AlCl 3, has been studied. The amides generally condense readily with aromatics in the presence of AlCl 3 to give 3-arylpropionamides and related compounds in excellent yields, while some amides also undergo selective ionic hydrogenation with cyclohexane to give ...