Treatment of α-acyl-α, β-unsaturated ketones with sulfuric acid or dimethylformamide- hydrogen chloride or p-toluenesulfonic acid gave rise to 3-acyl-2-alkyl-4, 5-dihydrofurans. Similar cyclization of α-acyl-α, β-unsaturated esters initially afforded 3-alkoxycarbonyl-2- alkyl-4, 5-dihydrofurans which were transformed into 2-acylbutanolides on further reaction with sulfuric acid. This acid catalyzed cyclization is strongly dependent upon the ...