Abstract The total synthesis of rubrenolide 1, a naturally occuring γ-lactone, is described. The γ-lactone was prepared by using the photo-induced rearrangement of an epoxy diazomethyl ketone as the key step. The diol side chain was introduced by a condensation with isopropylidene glyceraldehyde. During the synthesis it was concluded that the stereochemistry of the secondary alcohol was orinally incorrectly assigned. Rubrenolide ...