5-[Hydroxy(aryl/alkylamino)methylene]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones react with BF3•Et2O in mild conditions leading to the formation of boron difluoride complexes of carbamoyl Meldrum's acids. The X-ray structure has been obtained for one representative complex. The obtained new compounds are fairly stable at standard ambient conditions and easily isolable.

Abstract: A one pot synthesis for preparation of 1,4-disubstituted-2-oxo-azetidine-3-carboxylic acid amides was developed. 5-(α-N-substituted-amino-α'-hydroxy)methylene Meldrum's acids act as a source of ketenes that react with aldimines in boiling toluene to give b-lactams with retro-amid side chain.

Acyl Meldrum's acid are usually a good source of ketenes upon definite thermal composition. However we treated acyl-Meldrum's acid with the Lewis acid and we observed formation of 5[[(2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxan 5 ylidene)(acyl/arylamino)mathoxy](acyl/arylamino)methylene]-2,2dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6 dione which means acyl-Meldrum's acid anhydride. The chemical properities of acyl-Meldrum's acid anhydride were explored.