An efficient isomerization of glycidic esters to corresponding allylic alcohols, viz. alpha-hydroxy-beta,gamma-unsaturated esters has been brought about using HClO4 center dot SiO2. Five of these allylic alcohols underwent selective S(N)2' nucleophilic substitution to generate alpha-azido-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters which were readily converted to an antispastic drug Baclofen and four other beta-phenyl GABA analogues.