A new preparation of 2-(hydroxymethyl)chromones was developed via the new regio-selective six-membered cyclization of 1-[o-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)phenyl]but-2-yn-1-ones by a three-step treatment with 1) diethylamine (activation of the γ-position), 2) KF-18-crown-6 (deprotection), and 3) silica-gel (cyclization). A naturally occurring chiral hydroxymethylfurochromone, (−)-umtatin, was synthesized starting from chiral (R)-(−)-2-isopropenyl-4,6-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, and the absolute structure was determined to R.