Abstract 4-Ethoxycarbonyl-5-phenyl-2, 3-dihydrofuran-2, 3-dione 1 reacts with aldehydes via the acylketene intermediate 2 giving the 1, 3-dioxin-4-ones 3a-e and the 1, 4-bis (5- ethoxycarbonyl-4-oxo-6-phenyl-4H-1, 3-dioxin-2-yl) benzene 4, and a one step reaction between dibenzoylmethane and oxalylchloride gave 3, 5-dibenzoyl-2, 6-diphenyl-4-pyrone 7. The reaction of 1 with dibenzoylmethane, a dicarbonyl compound, provided ethyl 3- ...