Via the rational design of a single-preferred transition state, stabilized by electron donor- acceptor-type attractive interactions, structural and geometric requirements for the corresponding starting compounds have been determined. The Ni (II) complex of the Schiff base of glycine with o-[N-α-picolylamino] acetophenone, as a nucleophilic glycine equivalent, and N-(trans-enoyl) oxazolidin-2-ones, as derivatives of an α, β-unsaturated ...