TiCl4‐Et3N‐mediated one‐step synthesis of γ‐alkylidenebutenolides from ketones: Application to natural product synthesis

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TiCl4‐Et3N‐mediated condensation of ketones with methyl pyruvate afforded γ‐alkylidene butenolides via a tandem cross‐aldol addition/dehydroxylation/intramolecular lactonization process in one‐pot. The application of the methodology to the straightforward synthesis of elem‐1,3,7,8‐tetraen‐8,12‐olide, chloranthalactone A, and dehydromenthofurolactone, is demonstrated.