A new, one-pot annulation process, involving conjugate addition of the sodium salts of dimethyl (or dibenzyl ) malonate to alkyl 2-(1- hydroxyalkyl ) propenoates, produces a mixture of dialkyl 6-aryl(or alkyl)-2-oxotetrahydro-2H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylates. Alkylations of the cis-isomers were found to be highly stereoselective . The ntroduction of unsaturation into these molecules is also described.