Novel stereoconvergent transformation of 1,2a-disubstituted 1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones to 1,3-disubstituted 1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols and its application to the second-generation synthesis of (+/-)-linderol A.