New chemo and chemo-enzymatic synthesis of β-benzyl-γ-butyrolactones

β-Benzyl-γ-butyrolactones, important intermediates for the synthesis of butyrolactone lignans, have been synthesized by a new route involving preparation of α-β-unsaturated formyl esters. The formyl esters can easily be converted into the desired butyrolactones either through chemical transformations or by enzymatic methods.