The synthesis of four enantiopure hydroxyamidines is described. One amidine was obtained from (S)-pyroglutamic acid. Its key step involved the addition of phenylmagnesium bromide to the corresponding ester, affording the tertiary alcohol without detectable racemization. The second amidine was obtained by coupling of an (S)-malicacid derived N-acyliminium ion with β-naphthol. The other amidines were