A simple and efficient synthesis of (±)-massoilactone (1) as a key substance for the butter and milk flavor was accomplished from n-hexanal in only a few steps. Application of its racemic synthesis enabled natural (R)-(−)- and unnatural (S)-(+)-massoilactone (1a, 1b) to be synthesized by starting from commercially available (R)-(+)-1,2-epoxyheptane (5).
