A small parallel library of 1,4,5-trisubstitutedpyrazoles was prepared in solution using a three-step procedure starting from Meldrum acid. The Meldrum acid was acylated with different acyl chlorides and the products opened with different alcohols and amines to give substituted β-keto esters and β-keto amines. Further reaction with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal and the final cyclisation were