2,6-dimethyl-gamma-pyrone was synthesized via the Claisen condensation with acetylacetone and methyl acetate as raw materials, tetrahydrofuran as solvent, sodium ethylate as catalyst. The qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Effects of reaction conditions on the properties of 2,6-dimethyl-gamma-pyrone were investigated by single factor experiments. The results showed that the yield of 2,6-dimethyl-gamma-pyrone could reach 13.32% and its content was 95.37% calculated by acetylacetone under the following reaction conditions: the molar ratio of acetylacetone to methyl acetate and sodium ethylate 1.0:2.5:2.0, reaction temperature was 85 ℃, reaction time was 6 hours.