Asymmetric aldol reactions of aliphatic ketones or aldehydes with aromaticaldehydes or isatins were catalyzed by a very simple and flexible N -(2,6-difl uorophenyl)-L-valinamide. Interestingly, stereochemical course of the reaction of hydroxyacetones or a-branched aliphatic aldehydes as aldol donors was different from that of cycloalkanones .