A facile route to the synthesis of γ-sulfonyl lactones 5 and β-sulfonyl styrenes 6 has been developed, achieving moderate to good yields via the (1) NaH mediated Michael addition of β-ketosulfones 3 and methyl acrylate in refluxing THF and (2) NaBH4 mediated stereoselective reduction/lactonization of δ-ketoesters 4 in boiling MeOH, or (3) boron trifluoride etherate mediated ring-opening of lactones