The reaction of pentacarbonyl[methoxy(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene]chromiu
m(0) with acetylenic alcohols has been investigated. Reaction protocols hav
e been optimised for rapid and direct access to functionalised gamma-, delt
a-, and epsilon -lactone products possessing enol ether (i.e. masked carbon
yl) functionality. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.