In the presence of a catalytic amount of TsOH·H
2O or TiCl
4, 5-silyl-4-pentenoic acids (
1), namely vinylsilanes with a carboxy group, were smoothly cyclized to γ-lactones in good to high yields. The difference in the geometry of the carbon
carbon double-bond did not affect the reaction rate. The TiCl
4-catalyzed cyclization of the substrates bearing a phenyl or alkyl group at the homoallylic position showed moderate
cis-selectivity, while introduction of a substituent into the allylic position led to high
trans-selectivity.