Trifluoromethyl nitrones: from fluoral to optically active hydroxylamines.

Trifluoromethyl nitrones were obtained in high yields by condensation of various hydroxylamines with trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate. The nucleophilic diastereoselective additions of organometallic reagents to these nitrones afforded the corresponding optically active trifluoroethyl hydroxylamines in good yields.