Efficient and convenient entry to β-hydroxy-β-trifluoromethyl-β-substituted ketones and 2,6-disubstituted 4-trifluoromethylpyridines based on the reaction of trifluoromethyl ketones with enamines or imines

The reactions of trifluoromethyl ketones with enamines or imines are described. The reaction of trifluoroacetone with enamines or imines followed by hydrolysis gave the corresponding beta -hydroxy-beta -trifluoromethyl-beta -methyl ketones in good yields. The reaction of trifluoromethylated beta -diketones with enamines in the presence of ammonium acetate gave 4-trifluoromethylated pyridines exclusively in good yields, without any detectable amount of regioisomers.