situ. This novel skeletal reorganization process was implemented into a concise total synthesis of the terpenes sabinone (18) and sabinol (19). Furthermore it is shown that conversion of the hydroxylatedenynes into the corresponding acetates followed by reaction with a cationic gold catalyst formed from (PPh3)AuCl and AgSbF6 opens entry into isomeric products bearing the ketone function at the C-2