A general one-pot synthesis of some 2H-pyran-2-ones and fused pyran-2-ones starting from 1, 3-dlcarbonyl compounds, N-acylglycines and one-carbon synthons (trialkyl orthoformates, diethoxymethyl acetate or N, N-dlmethylformamide dimethyl acetal) in acetic anhydride (or in a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid) is described.