acids 7 (via 6-[(butylsulfanyl)methylene] and epoxide derivatives), one of which furnished hexalone derivative 11 (via an intermediate diazomethyl ketone derivative). The above-mentioned starting esters were converted to ethylene ketals, the free-radical oxidations of which led to hydrobenzofuran acids. One of the latter led to a hydrindanone (via a diazomethyl ketone), whose further chemical elaboration