In this account, recent accomplishments in the field of target-oriented synthesis involving allenes are summarized. Allenic α-amino acid derivatives 9, which are of interest as possible vitamin B 6 decarboxylase inhibitors, were prepared by 1,6-addition of the cyano-Gilman reagent t-Bu 2 CuLi-LiCN to 2-amino-substituted enynoates 8. and selective deprotection at either the amino or the ester group