been achieved by condensation of methylmalonyl dichloride with ethyl trans-4-methyl-3-oxo-4-hexenoate followed by hydrolysis, decarboxylation, and methylation of the resulting 3-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-carbethoxy-6-(trans-1-methyl-1-propenyl)-2-pyrone. Exploration of an alternate scheme involving the dehydrogenation of 6-substituted-4-methoxy-5,6-dihydro-2-pyrones, prepared by Reformatsky reaction of ethyl