The organocopper-Lewis acid system, RCu-TMEDA-Bu(2)BOTf, is useful for conjugate addition to highly constrained chiral alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acyl imidazolidinones. In comparison with the corresponding TMSCl-activated reagents, Bu(2)BOTf exhibits a dramatic increase in reactivity during 1,4-addition of benzylic and allylic organocopper reagents, which react more readily with crotonoyl-, and especially cinnamoyl imides. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.