Abstract Two general methods of synthesis of ketene alkyltrialkylsilyl acetals (I) have been developed. The first way byh reaction of disubstituted malonates and sodium/xylene and the other method was by reaction of the α-anion of substituted acetates with trimethylchlorosilane. Carbomethoxy ketene methyltrimethylsilyl acetals (III) were also prepared. Pyrolysis of diaryl ketene methyltrimethylsilyl acetals gave diaryl ketenes in ...