The objective of this study was to develop new synthetical routes to natural and industrial products utilizing ketene cycioaddition reactions. The cycioaddition of diphenylketene with α,β-unsaturated imines yields (2+2) cycioaddition products, g-lactams. However, electron donating groups, such as dimethylamine, in the 4-position of the α,β-unsaturated imines result in (4+2) cycloaddition products, ∂-lactams. Dichloroketene reacted with α,β-unsaturated imines to yield (4+2) cycloaddition products, g-lactams. Large substituents in the 4-position of a, ^-unsaturated imines resulted in a (2+2) cycioaddition product, β-lactam. The ∂-lactams derived from dichloroketene are easily dehydrochlorinated to the corresponding 2-pyridornes.