Due to their multifunctional character, the ethoxycarbonylation of 3-keto-5-oxa-cephams (10, 27 and 28) using ethyl cyanoformate in THF/HMPA solution led to expected products 14, 27 and 29 in a low yield only. Apart from the desired compounds, the O-acylation, C-alkylation at C-7, and the addition of CN¯ anion to the keto group were also observed.