Facile synthesis of mutagen X (MX): 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-5H-furan-2-one

3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-5H-furan-2-one (mutagen X, MX) was synthesized in six steps from commercially-available and inexpensive starting materials (27% overall yield). This synthesis enables the preparation of MX analogs and does not require the use of chlorine gas, as do previously reported methods.