Abstract Racemic and enantiopure 2-tert-butyltetrahydropyrimidinones (from pivalaldehyde and 3-aminocarboxylic acids) are converted to Alloc-, Boc-, and Z-protected cyclic imino esters (7–10, Schemes 2–4). These are deprotonated to Li enaminates (K, L). Reactions with electrophiles (prim., sec. alkyl, allyl, benzyl, propargyl halides, aldehydes, imines, enoates) give good yields and are highly diastereoselective (products 11–42, Schemes 5 ...