Regiospecific Synthesis of α-Amino Keto Acetals (β,β-Dialkoxyamines)

alpha-Amino keto acetals (beta,beta-dialkoxyamines) are synthesized in a regiospecific way by the reaction of alpha-bromo-alpha-chloro ketimines with sodium borohydride in methanol. As alpha-bromo-alpha-chloro ketimines are formed regiospecifically from alpha,alpha-dihalogenated ketones, derived from the corresponding ketones, this methodology entails a regiospecific synthesis of alpha-amino keto acetals from ketones.