(R)-(+)-α-Hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone may be used as a starting material for the synthesis of (R)-2,4-dihydroxybutyramideseco-pseudonucleoside reagents.It may also be used to prepare 6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α,17α-isopropylidenedioxy-21-[(3S)-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-ylsulfanyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, a pregnane derivative possessing a γ-butyrolactone ring at C21.