The effect of the ‘central methane’ substitution on the di-π-methanerearrangement in 4-benzyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-ones 8a–d was investigated. Significant enhancement of efficiency in the rearrangement leading in high combined yields to two isomeric products, endo-12 and exo-12, is discussed in terms of both the substituent effects at the benzylic carbon and the restrained features of the ring-enrolled