Reductive alkylation of Meldrum's acid with acetaldehyde can give, depending on the experimental conditions, either a new dimer (5-[3-(2, 2-dimethyl-4, 6-dioxo-1, 3-dioxan-5-yl) butyl]-2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxane-4, 6-dione) or ethyl Meldrum's acid (2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3- dioxane-4, 6-dione). A best way to obtain this latter product is synthesis of 1- ethoxyethylidene Meldrum's acid from reaction of Meldrum's acid with triethyl orthoacetate, ...
[Habibi, Azizollah; Eskandari, Khalil; Alizadeh, Abdolali Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and the Related Elements, 2012 , vol. 187, # 9 p. 1109 - 1117]
