The nucleophilic 1, 2-addition of formaldehyde N, N-dialkylhydrazones 1, 2, and 7-10 to trifluoromethyl ketones 3a-e takes place in the absence of any catalyst or promoter to afford a series of α-hydroxy-α-trifluoromethylhydrazones (4, 5, and 11-14) in good-to-excellent yields. From the several reagents studied, optimal results were achieved using 1- (methyleneamino) pyrrolidine (2) for the synthesis of racemic adducts and (S)-1-( ...
