Synthesis and reactivity of alkenyl- and alkynyl-substituted β,β-dihalo-and β,β,β-trichloroamines

β,β-Dihalo- and β,β,β-trichloroamines, obtained by Lewis acid-promoted Petasis-type reaction of α,α-dichlorinated and α,α,α-trichlorinated imines or reduction of α,α-dihaloaldimines, were subjected to a reactivity study and turned out to be remarkably stable compounds. In general, only the bases KOtBu and NaOMe cause a 1,2-dehydrochlorination with formation of unsaturated α-chloroimines or unsaturated α,α-dichloroimines. Hydrolysis of the α-chloroimines with aqueous oxalic acid resulted in the formation of the corresponding unsaturated α-chloroketones. The reaction of simple β,β-dihaloamines with NaOMe and KOtBu generated 2-haloprop-2-enylmines and 2,2-dimethoxypropylamines.