Abstract The reaction of N, N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine, N, N-dimethylbenzylamine and N, N-dimethyl-2-propyn-1-amine with the α-diazo ketones N 2 CHCOR [R= Me (2a), Et (2b), nPr (2c), iPr (2d),(CH 2) 10 Me (2e),(CH 2) 14 Me (2f) or Ph (2g)] in a 1: 1 molar ratio, catalysed by the complex [RuCl (η 5-C 5 H 5)(PPh 3) 2](1)(1% mol), have been investigated. Noticeably, the corresponding α-amino ketones 3a− g, 4a− g and 5a− g are readily and ...