Stereo-specific total synthesis of steroidal materials. 7-Substituted 3-oxo-1-heptenes or variants thereof are reacted with 2-alkylcycloalkane-1,3-diones yielding 3-substituted 6a .beta.-alkyl-cyclopenta [f] [1] benzopyrans or naphtho [2,1-b] pyrans. These are then subjected to a selective catalytic hydrogenation followed by an introduction of a hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy group at the 4a-position to produce a 3-substituted 6a .beta.,4a-hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy perhydrocyclopenta [f] [1] benzopyran or perhydro-naphtho [2,1-b] pyran. These latter compounds are then converted into 4- or 5-(3-oxoalkyl)perhydroindene-5-ones or perhydronaphthalene-6-ones which in turn can be converted to known steroidal materials by known methods.