The present invention discloses a method for efficiently synthesizing beta-benzyl butyrolactone having a specific configuration. The method is characterized in that phenylpropionic acid or a derivative thereof is adopted as a starting material, the phenylpropionic acid or the derivative thereof and an oxazolidone chiral prosthetic group are subjected to condensation, a haloacetic acid ester attacks the carbonyl ortho position carbon of the phenylpropionic acid under the effect of a large steric hindrance organic alkali, the prosthetic group is hydrolyzed and recovered after the specific chiral center is successfully constructed, and the corresponding product is subjected to an intramolecular ester exchange reaction to generate the beta-benzyl butyrolactone having the specific configuration. According to the present invention, the prepared beta-benzyl butyrolactone can be used for chemical synthesis of a lot of dibenzyl type lignins having potential medicinal values, and has characteristics of cheap and readily available raw materials, short step, high yield, and high optical purity.