A convergent route to β-hydroxy δ-lactones through Prins cyclisation as the key step: synthesis of (+)-prelactones B, C and V

Reactions of homoallylic alcohols with aldehydes in the presence of acid catalysts gave multisubstituted tetrahydropyrans with the creation of one to three new stereogenic centres in a single-pot process. The utility of this approach is extended to the enantioselective syntheses of (+)-prelactones B, C and V.