Abstract 3-Substituted 1-alken-4-ols were oxidized with PdCl 2-benzoquinone regioselectively at the terminal carbon to afford cyclic hemiacetals (γ-butyrolactols), which were converted to γ-butyrolactones by the Jones oxidation. This reaction was applied to the syntheses of optically active deoxyribose and γ-butenolides.
