Alpha-alkylation of ketones by addition of zinc enamides to unactivated olefins

A zinc enamide generated from the corresponding N-aryl imine undergoes addition to an unactivated olefin, to generate an alpha-alkylated gamma-zincioimine intermediate in good to excellent yield. The organozinc intermediate undergoes further C-C bond formation with a carbon electrophile to give, upon hydrolysis of the imine, an alpha-alkylated ketone.