Compounds containing a heterocumulene entity are expected to have synthetic potential as a result of their ability to take part in dimerization, cycloaddition, and polymerization, among other reactions. 1 In general, hydrogen substituted ketenimines and those with small unbranched alkyl substituents are elusive substances. Ketenimines play a role as discrete but transient intermediates in many interconversions, especially in eliminationaddition processes and in the formation of heterocyclic systems. [1][2][3][4][5] The spectroscopic properties of ketenimines have been intensively investigated. 6,7 We wish to report a simple one-pot preparation of stable ketenimines using alkyl isocyanides 1, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates 2, and a strong CH-acid, such as methyl 2-acetyl-3-oxobutanoate. This condensation reaction produces highly functionalized ketenimines 3 in fairly good yields. These ketenimines are recovered unchanged after refluxing a chloroform solution for several hours.The structures of compounds 3a-c were deduced from their elemental analyses, mass spectrometric data and their 1 H and 13 C NMR and IR spectra. The nature of these compounds as 1:1:1 adducts was apparent from the mass spectra which displayed molecular ion peaks at m/z = 383, 411, and 409.The 1 H NMR spectra of 3a exhibited seven single sharp lines arising from tert-butyl (δ = 1.40 ppm), acetyl (δ = 2.31 and 2.36 ppm), methoxy (δ = 3.60, 3.62 and 3.80 ppm), and the methine (δ = 4.62 ppm) protons. The 13 C NMR spectrum of 3a showed sixteen distinct resonances consistent with the dimethyl 2-(N-tertbutyliminomethylidene)-3(1-acetyl-1-methoxycarbonyl-2oxopropyl)succinate 3a. Partial assignments of these resonances are given in the experimental section.