The curing and adhesive properties of one-component epoxy resins containing Epikote 828 and diimines, derived from N,N'-di(1-ethylpropylidene)-m-xylylenediamine, N,N'-di(1-ethylpropylidene)-1,3-diaminom-ethylcyclohexane (2), and N,N'-di(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)m-xylylenediamine, which were used as water-initiated hardeners, were examined. Diethyl ketone-based imines with a lower electron density on the C = N carbon were efficiently hydrolyzed and showed curing activity. 2, a novel diethyl ketone-based diimine, served as an efficient latent hardener of the epoxy resin. A paste of the epoxy resin with 2 showed good storage stability at room temperature and good adhesive properties. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.