5-Diphenylphosphinoyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-ones are readily prepared from the
corresponding 5-diphenylphosphinoy-1-1-buten-3-yne under mild acidic condi
tions. The phosphorus substituted pyrones are converted to more substituted
pyrones via 1,4-addition of copper reagents followed by Horner-Wittig reac
tion.