The self-condensation of cyclohexanone in diethyl ether catalyzed by sodiumamide has been found to provide a one-step route to pyran 3. Evidence is presented that the Cornubert ketone formed by this reaction corresponds to ketol 2 which readily rearranges under dehydrating conditions to afford pyran 3. Structural elucidation of pyran 3 was achieved by a combination of degradative (3 → 5b), synthetic