The structure determination of the title compound, dimethyl (+/-)-3 be
ta-methyl-2-oxo-6 alpha-phenyl-3,4,5,6-te hydro-2H-pyran-3 alpha, 5 al
pha-dicarboxylate, C16H18O6. Unequivocally establishes its relative st
ereochemistry. The results provide strong support for the proposal tha
t enolates derived from cis-5,6-disubstituted tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-on
es react very selectively with electrophiles trans to the C(5) and C(6
) substituents.