A facile and mild macrolactonization reaction of ω-hydroxy acids was developed based on the transesterification of benzotriazole esters. Treatment of ω-hydroxy acids with 1-ethyl-3-(3- dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and 1-hydroxy benzotriazole (HOBT) in chloroform provided macrolactones in excellent yields. The reactions were performed under basic, neutral and acidic conditions using N, N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), ...