In connection with the studies for developing new enzymes that could be useful in organic synthesis, practical preparation of racemic and enantiopure forms of ${gamma}$-hydroxy-${alpha}$-keto acids has been successfully achieved. For racemic form of ${gamma}$-hydroxy-${alpha}$-keto acids, indium-mediated allylation of aldehydes with 2-(bromomethyl)acrylic acid has been employed as a key step. Oxidative cleavage of the thus formed 2-methylenebutyrolactones provided the desired ${alpha}$-ketobutyrolactones. Enzymatic resolution of the ${gamma}$-hydroxy-${alpha}$-methylene esters provided the desired${gamma}$-hydroxy-${alpha}$-methylene acids which were successfully converted to ${gamma}$-hydroxy-${alpha}$-ketobutyrolactones in optically pure forms.