Attempts to selectively arylate [6, 6]-spiroacetal enol ethers at the 2-position delivered unexpected results. Palladium-mediated arylation conditions afforded the double-Heck product, whereas reaction with benzenesulfinic acid resulted in a facile rearrangement into the corresponding 5-phenylsulfonyl-3, 4, 5, 6-tetrahydrochromans, providing access to 5-aryl- 3, 4, 5, 6-tetrahydrochroman and hexahydrochroman derivatives.