A convenient synthesis of substituted γ-pyrones

An efficient and general synthetic method for various 2-mono- and 2,6-disubstituted γ-pyrones has been developed. This utilizes the $\text{C}$-acylation (70–85%) of β-methoxy-α,β-enone lithium enolates $\text{4}$ by acid chlorides $\text{3}$ followed by the acid-catalyzed cyclization (>80%) of the resulting enols $\text{5}$ to γ-pyrones $\text{6}$.