methylmalonic acid with mono- and disubstituted olefins in the presence of manganese(III) acetate yielded 2-carboxy-2-methyl-4-butanolides in moderate to good yields. The reactions of bromomalonic acid and chloromalonic acid with a variety of olefins gave 2-halo-4-butanolides and/or 2-buten-4-olides. The reaction of ethyl hydrogen malonate with olefins in the presence of manganese(III) acetate yielded