The formation of tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans by acid catalyzed cyclization of hydroxy selenides can be explained by kinetic and thermodynamic control. The tetrahydropyrans from the hybrid 7-endo/6-exo cyclization are the thermodynamic products of the acid catalyzed cyclization of hydroxy selenides 1, whereas the tetrahydrofurans from the 5-exo cyclization are the kinetic products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.