The Michael addition of a beta,beta-dimethyl substituted silyl ketene acetal [Me2C=C(OMe)OSiMe3] to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, namely, 2-cyclopentenone, 2-cyclohexenone, 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone, isophorone, methyl vinyl ketone and mesityl oxide occurs smoothly in the presence of the nucleophilic catalyst, tetra-n-butyl ammonium bibenzoate (TBABB) in THE giving the corresponding 1,4-adducts in excellent yields. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.