To test the feasibility of a biogenetically inspired synthesis of edulone A1, podocarpic acid3ahas been transformed into a substituted hexahydrophenalene16b. The critical steps involve introduction of a double bond into the A ring, cleavage by ozone, and, after suitable manipulation, an epoxy-arene cyclization. A second product from this cyclization is an octahydrophenaleno[1,9-bc]furan17.