The condensation of ethyl 2 [(2 aminophenyl)aminomethylidene] 3 oxo 3 polyfluoroalkyl propionates with aldehydes (salicylaldehyde, furfural, and benzaldehyde) affords the cor responding azomethine derivatives exhibiting the complexing ability toward copper and nickel ions.In recent years, transition metal chelate complexes have attracted considerable interest because they show promise for the design of versatile multifunctional materi als. In this respect, metal complexes containing Schiff bases as the ligand shell deserve special attention because certain compounds belonging to this class have catalytic, 1-4 anomalous magnetic, 5-8 and luminescence 9 properties. Previously, 10 we have synthesized ethyl 2 [(2 amino phenyl)aminomethylidene] 3 oxo 3 polyfluoroalkylpro pionates 1a-c by the condensation of ethyl 2 ethoxy methylidene 3 oxo 3 polyfluoroalkylpropionates with о phenylenediamine. Compounds 1a-c are promising substrates for the synthesis of new ligands.The aim of the present study was to examine the possi bility of the formation of asymmetric ligands based on esters 1a-c in the reactions with aldehydes. Asymmetric ligands have attracted interest because the coordination units in metal complexes with these ligands can be sub stantially nonplanar, resulting in the appearance of para magnetism.For the preparation of the Schiff bases, we used salicyl aldehyde having the chelating cavity, as well as benzalde hyde and furfural.It was found that the reactions of compounds 1a-c with salicylaldehyde under reflux in benzene in the pres ence of AcOH with azeotropic removal of water gave ethyl 2 {[2 (2 hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenyl]aminometh ylidene} 3 oxo 3 polyfluoroalkylpropionates 2a-c (Scheme 1). Evidently, this transformation is accompa nied by the formation the azomethine moiety between the Scheme 1 i. C 6 H 6 , AcOH, Δ, azeotropic reflux; ii. EtOH, Δ.