An enantiospecific synthesis of the tricyclic guanidine segment 19 of the new anti-HIV alkaloid batzelladine A, isolated from a marine sponge of genus batzella, starting from [3R(1′R,4R)]-4-acetoxy-3-[1-(tert- butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-2-azetidinone 3 is described.