A new stereoselective synthetic route for the preparation of cis and trans disubstituted (and trisubstituted) gamma-lactones starting from the readily available alpha-phenylsulfonyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 3 or alpha-phenylsulfonylbutenolides 4 is described. This method is based on the conjugate addition of Me3Al to compounds 3 and 4, which occurs with high, though opposite, facial selectivity.