Representative N-protected 3,3-difluoroazetidin-2-ones 3 were obtained, either in one step by cycloaddition of zinc enolate 1 derived from ethyl bromodifluoroacetate onto N,N¢,N¢¢-trisubstituted hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines 2 (Schiff base trimer) in the case of 3a [N-(p-methoxybenzyl) derivative], or in two steps consisting of a Reformatsky-type reaction for the preparation of N-substituted 3-amino-2,2-difluoropropanotes 8 followed by N1-C2 cyclization under basic conditions in the cases of 3b (N-anisyl derivative) and 3c (N-benzhydryl derivative).