Carbamoyl anions, generated from N,N-disubstituted formamides and lithium diisopropylamide, add with high diastereoselectivity to chiral N-sulfinyl aldimines and ketimines to provide alpha-amino amides. The methodology enables the direct introduction of a carbonyl group without the requirement of unmasking steps as with other nucleophiles. The products may be converted to alpha-amino esters or 1,2-diamines. Iterative application of the reaction enabled the stereoselective synthesis of a dipeptide. Spectroscopic and computational studies support an anion structure with eta(2) coordination of lithium by the carbonyl group.