The reaction of 1-substituted vinamidinium salts with sarcosine ethyl ester produced 2,3-disubstituted pyrroles; a similar reaction with glycine ethyl ester gave 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles. Reactions of related three-carbon synthons with sarcosine and glycine were studied under basic, neutral and acidic conditions which demonstrated the utility of these derivatives for the regiocontrolled preparation of disubstituted pyrroles. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd