A stereoselective multi-step one-pot procedure for converting 2-methoxycarbonyl-3-alkenols into 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,5-dihydrofurans, using only catalytic amounts of diphenyl diselenide and an excess of ammonium persulfate, has been developed. The erythro alkenols give the trans dihydrofurans, while the threo stereoisomers give the corresponding cisproducts. The configurations of the starting alkenols