Methoxytropolones are useful scaffolds for therapeutic development because of their known biological activity and established value in the synthesis of α-hydroxytropolones. Upon treatment with triflic acid, a series of 3-methoxy-8-oxabicyclo [3.2. 1] octa-3, 6-dien-2-ones rearrange rapidly and cleanly to form methoxytropolones. Interestingly, bicycles that are derived from dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (R2= R3= CO2Me) instead form furans as ...