ANGEL GUZMAN, CLARA QUINTERO, and JOSEPH M. MUCHOWSKI. Can. J. Chem. 69, 2059Chem. 69, (1991. A versatile synthesis of a-alkyl-a-amino ketones 5 and cyclic a-amino ketones 7 based on the selective mono-a-alkylation and C(a), N-cycloalkylation of a-tert-butoxycarbonylamino ketones 2 and subsequent acidic hydrolysis is described.