The cyclization of diethyl oxalate (I) with N-ethylethylenediamine (II) in ethanol gives ethyl-2,3-dioxopiperazine (III), which by reaction first with trimethylsilyl chloride and triethytamine and then with phosgene in THF is converted into 4-ethyl-2,3-dioxopiperazine-1-carboxylic acid chloride (IV). Finally, this compound is condensed with 6-D-(-)-alpha-aminophenylacetamidopenicillanic acid (V) by means of triethylamine in THF - water.