The title compounds can be considered as stabilized aza analogs of previously studied dihydrobenzopyranones and linear depsipeptides, which behave as substrates or inhibitors of β-lactamases. 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-7-and -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-