Reagent for preparation of benzyloxycarbonyl (Z, Cbz) hydrazides of carboxylic acids, particularly N-protected amino acids. Subsequent hydrogenolysis gives the hydrazide which can be converted to the azide for coupling with a further amino acid residue by the azide method: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 74, 470 (1952); 87, 620 (1965); Has also been used in a similar manner for the preparation of simple acyl or sulfonyl hydrazides avoiding diacylation; the residual benzyl group is removable by hydrogenolysis: Synthesis, 244 (1980).