Nucleophilicaddition of organometallics to N,N-dimethyl-glyoxal-monohydrazone occurs smoothly to give the corresponding α-hydroxy hydrazones in high yields. From these compounds, polyfunctional derivatives such as protected α-hydroxy aldehydes and α-hydroxy nitriles can be easily obtained in satisfactory to good yields. The addition to a SAMP-hydrazone proceeds with low (35% d.e.) or reasonable (60%