bromodiketone 8 leading to the unusual ring system of tricyclo[4.4.0.0]decanediones (9 and 10) is described. An entry into the ring system of the sesquiterpenoid hydrocarbons copaene and ylangene, 8 to 9, is achieved in three steps starting with enone 6. Compound 9 was either derived from a direct internal SN2 cyclization of 8 or the Favorskii intermediate 8a. Formation of compound 10, on the other hand