Facile preparation of 2,6-dimethyl-2,6-tetrahydropyrancarbolactone, a versatile intermediate for the syntheses of (±)-frontalin, (±)-cinenic acid, and (±)-linaloyl oxide

Abstract 2,6-Dimethylcyclohexanone has been converted via its 2,6-dihydroxy derivative by base-catalyzed oxygenation to 2,6-dimethyl-2,6-tetrahydropyrancarbolactone which can be used as a key intermediate for the syntheses of the title natural products in racemic forms.