An efficient synthesis of 4H,5H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-diones from a suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-one

An efficient synthesis of ethyl 7-aryl-2-methyl-4H,5H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-dione-1-carboxylate 5, and ethyl 6-aryl-3-cyano-2H-pyran-2-one-4-acetate 6 has been delineated by reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1 with ethyl acetoacetate 2.