Acid-mediated cyclization reactions are described of seven methyl 2-acetoxy-2-(3-alken-1- oxy) acetates with different chain substitution. The major product of the tin tetrachloride- induced cyclization reaction is in most cases a tetrahydropyran containing an equatorial carbomethoxy function at C2 and an axial chlorine atom at C4. The mechanism of its formation involves a net cis-addition of the intermediate α-ester oxycarbenium ion to the ...