Studies in oxasteroids—I : Synthesis of 3-cyano-3-methyl-7-methoxychroman-4-one and the structure of an “abnormal” product

A synthesis of 3-cyano-3-methyl-7-methoxychroman-4-one is reported. The structure of an “abnormal” product obtained during isomerization (III) with potassium t-butoxide in t-butanol, followed by alkylation with methyl iodide has been proved to be 3-t-butoxy-2-cyano- 2-mehthyl-2′,4′-dimethoxypropiophenone (IVa).