Abstract: Novel .beta.-aminovinyl ketones of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is, in particular, an alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group; R.sup.2 is, in particular, an electron-attracting substituent such as nitro, acyl, ester, alkylthio, carbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl or haloalkyl; R.sup.3 is, in particular, an alkyl or alkoxy group or a halogen atom; n is 1 or 2 and m is 0, 1, 2 or 3. A method for preparing such compounds by carrying out a condensation reaction between ketone R.sup.1 --CO--CH.sub.3 and, in particular, benzonitrile substituted by (R.sup.2).sub.n and optionally (R.sup.3).sub.m, in the presence of a strong base, as well as a process employing said .beta.-aminovinyl ketones of general formula (VI) for preparing the corresponding .beta.-diketones, are also disclosed.