SummaryThe N-(2, 3-epoxypropyliden)-cyclohexylamine-N-oxide/CF3SO3SiR~ reagent described in this communication opens a new and interesting entry to the versatile N-substituted N-propenylnitrosonium ions of type b (Scheme 6). One of the uses of this reagent is shown to be the synthesis of u-methylidene-y-lactones from olefins. This new method shows similar features as the method based on 2,3-dichloropropylidcnamine-oxide/AgBF4 originally developed for the same purpose by Petrziika, Felix and Eschenmoser.Epoxynitrone 18 can be transformed to the positively charged heterodiene of type b (Scheme 5 ) using the highly electrophilic reagents CF3S03SiMe3 (23) and CF3S03Si (t-Bu)Me, (24), respectively. Low temperature 'H-and I3C-NMR. spectroscopy at -78" showed the sole formation of the nitrone-O-silyl-ethers a (Scheme 5). Epoxid opening leading to the diene b and subsequent reactions are observed only at about -30". The diene b prepared in situ, adds to isolated double bonds by way of an inverse Diels-Alder reaction to afford cycloadducts of type 27 (Scheme 7). Their stable cyanoderivatives, e.g. 28 (Scheme 7), can be isolated and transformed via 31, 44 and 54 into cis annelated a-methylidene-y-lactones of type 55 (Scheme 11). Using trisubstituted olefins, substitution at the lower substituted olefinic C-atom competes efficiently with the cycloaddition (e.g. 34, Scheme 8).