Prodn. of anhydrous hydrazine or hydrocarbyl-substd. hydrazines is effected by (a) reacting XNR1R2 (I) with a chlorinating agent (II) to form Cl-NR1R2 (III) without co-prodn. of NH4Cl; (b) reacting (III) with NR3R4R5 to form NR1R2NR3R4R5Cl (IV); and (c) reacting (IV) with ANR6R7 (V) under anhydrous conditions, where: X=H or alkali(ne earth) metal; R1, R2, R6 and R7=H or hydrocarbyl; R3-R5=hydrocarbyl; A= alkali(ne earth) metal.