The cyclization of 2-ethyl-3-thia-1,6-hexanedioic acid 1-ethyl-6-methyl ester (I) by means of sodium methoxide in benzene gives methyl 2-ethyl-3-oxotetrahydrothiophene-4-carboxylate (II), which is treated with hydroxylamine in pyridine to afford the corresponding oxime (III). Finally, this compound is treated with dry HCl in ether.