Addition of alkyl-lithium reagents to (vinylketenimine)tricarbonyliron(0) complexes generates compounds containing carbon quaternary centres. The major products from these reactions are either amides or aldehydes depending upon the conditions employed. Diastereomerically pure vinylketenimine complexes 7 and 8 of known absolute configuration were synthesised from (S)-alpha-methylbenzylisonitrile 6 (96% e.e.) and the (vinylketene)tricarbonyliron(0) complex 2. The addition of alkyl-lithium reagents to 7 and 8 occurred exclusively exo to the Fe(CO)3 group and the resulting compounds, which contained chiral quaternary centres, were found to be of high optical purity.