We have developed a short and practical first synthesis ofmethyl 1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate (2), whichhas been known as a component of salicortin and tremulacinsince 1970. Birch reduction of the SEM ether of methylsalicylate followed by oxidation of the intermediate enolatewith (−)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine afforded the SEM enolether of 2. Hydrolysis of the SEM enol ether afforded 2.We did not observe the dimerization of either racemic oroptically enriched 2 to give idesolide (1).