The 2-chloro-3-(2′-chloroalkyl)cyclopropenones 4, readily obtained by hydrolysis of the adducts of the trichlorocyclopropenylium ion onto alkenes, thermally rearrange to propiolic acid chlorides 6. Treatment of 4 with TosOH·H2O in CH2Cl2 yields the (E)-3-chloro-2-(2′-chloroalkyl)acrylic acids 9, which have been converted in two simple steps to -methylene-γ-butyrolactones 11 with good overall yields.