2,5-Bis(methoxycarbonyl)-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone (1) reacts with 4-phenylbut-3-yn-2-one (2b) in the presence of DABCO to give the bicyclic carbocycles (6b) and the tetracyclic carbocycle (7b) under extremely mild reaction conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.