Abstract The asymmetric synthesis of α-substituted α-amino acids and propargylamines is described. As chiral auxiliary we used (S)-(–)-1-dimethoxymethyl-2- methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SDMP, 1). Treatment of the amino acids or amines with SDMP 1 afforded the corresponding amidines C, which can be metalated and alkylated to yield the products D, which were hydrolyzed to give the desired α-substituted α-amino acids 20 and ...