Mono-O,O-and mono-S,S-ketals of 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-diones react with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and O-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride affording mixtures of (E/Z) isomers which are hard to separate or are even unseparable. Isomerically pure oximes and Omethyloximes, however, are obtained either from 2-lithiated 1,3-dithianes and -halogeno-oximes and -halogeno-oxime ethers, resp., or from lithiated oxime ethers and dithienium salts. Reduction, acetylation, hydrolysis of the ketal increment, and oximation afford 3-amino-oximes which are precursors of 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-diamines.