The title compounds can be considered as stabilized aza analogs of previously studied dihydrobenzopyranones and linear depsipeptides, which behave as substrates or inhibitors of βlactamases. Treatment of substituted hydrazides 9b and 9bЈ with a phosgene substitute resulted in a series of N-methylated 3-acylamino-3,4-dihydro-2-oxo-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-7and -8-carboxylic acids 2b and 2bЈ. However, in the case of the corresponding free NH hydrazide 9a(m), a competitive cyclization gave instead a stable 4H-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-one 10a. To avoid this unwanted cyclization, an N-(p-methoxy)benzylated hydrazide 9bЈЈ was prepared. After formation of the benzoxazinone ring with carbonyldiimidazole, the removal of this new N 1 -hydrazide protecting group was achieved with methanesulfonic acid in trifluoroacetic acid to give the expected 3-phenacetamido-3,4-dihydro-2-oxo-2H- [a] SIRCOB,