Skipped diynones, efficiently prepared from biomass-derived ethyl lactate, undergo a tandem hydration−
oxacyclization reaction under gold(I) catalysis. Reaction conditions have been developed for a switchable process that allows
selective access to 4-pyrones or 3(2H)-furanones from the same starting diynones. Further application of this methodology in the
total synthesis of polyporapyranone B was demonstrated.
