Reactions of aromatic methyl ketimines with halonitriles as a new route to pyrimidines with two polyhaloalkyl groups

N-Isopropyl-(1-phenylethylidene)amine reacts with trichloroacetonitrile to give 1-azabutadiene derivative, which undergoes a double addition reaction with a variety of halonitriles affording fluoro- and chloro-containing pyrimidines. Pyrimidines with two polyhaloalkyl groups were obtained by the reaction of methyl ketimines with an excess of trichloroacetonitrile, trifluoroacetonitrile and 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropionitrile.