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, followed by a sodium borohydride reduction.
