Methyltrifluoropyruvate imines possessing N-oxalyl and N-phosphonoformyl groups--precursors to a variety of alpha-CF3-alpha-amino acid derivatives.

Convenient routes to methyl 2-oxalylimino- and 2-(phosphonoformimido)-3,3,3-trifluoropropanoates have been elaborated, based on the reaction of methyl trifluoropyruvate with ethyl oxamate or diethyl carbamoylphosphonate, respectively, followed by dehydration. The compounds obtained are useful synthetic intermediates toward a variety of novel 3,3,3-trifluoroalanine derivatives that are potential drug candidates.