alpha-Lithio methoxy allene reacts with SAMP-hydrazones to give alpha-allenyl hydrazines 5 or 3-methoxy-3-pyrrolines 6 depending on the nature of the solvent. Both compounds have been obtained with d.e. greater than or equal to 99%. Hydrogenolysis of the N-N bond of 6 affords the pyrroline 7 in enantiopure form. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.