6-Chloro-2(2H)-pyranone: a new 2(2H)-pyranone synthon

6-Chloro-2(2H)-pyranone, which can be prepared in high yield from commercially available trans-glutaconic acid, undergoes facile Pd/Cu-catalyzed reaction with various 1-alkynes to give rise to the corresponding 6-(1-alkynyl)-2(2H)-pyranones in moderate to good yields. These last hitherto unknown compounds have been used as direct precursors to 6-alkyl- and 6-[(Z)-1-alkenyl]-2(2H)-pyranones.