The exocyclically unsaturated conjugated keto esters 10, obtained via a Claisen ortho ester rearrangement of the allylic hydroxy ketones 9, were either directly hydrogenated or partially isomerized into the endocyclically unsaturated tetrasubstituted didehydrojasmonoid intermediates 14, prior to a more selective hydrogenation with Pd/C in cyclohexane to the disubstituted oxocyclopentaneacetates 15