Chiral N-hetereocyclic carbenes were found to be efficient catalysts for the formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of alkyl(aryl)ketenes with 2-oxoaldehydes to afford beta-lactones with alpha-quaternary-beta-tertiary stereocenters in high yields with good diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Both alkyl(aryl)ketenes and diarylketene worked well in this reaction.