In this paper, it was found that isopropylidene (1-hydroxy-3-oxo-butylidene) malonate 4 was a heat unstable compound and the one step convenient methods for preparation of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone 1 and 3-carboxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone 2 in good yields were reported. Isopropylidene malonate 3、diketen and triethylamine reacted in chloroform to give 2, and in the mixture of dichloromethane and chlorobenzene to offer 1.
