Abstract Oxidation of the synthetic pallescensin 1 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid, followed by treatment of the resulting epoxide with lithium diethylamide, afforded 3-[2-(2-furyl)ethyl]-4,4-dimethyl-2-methylenecyclohexanol (6). The alcohol 6 was dehydrated with refluxing hexamethylphosphoric triamide to give pallescensin 2. Oxidation of 6 with pyridinium chlorochromate, followed by intramolecular cyclization with 85% phosphoric acid, afforded 5,5a,6,7,8,9,9a,10-octahydro-6,6-dimethyl-4H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]furan-9-one. This was converted into the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone (10) via an α-phenylseleno ketone. Reduction of 10 with lithium aluminium hydride, followed by dehydration with hexamethylphosphoric triamide at 200–210 °C, afforded pallescensin G, which was further isomerized to pallescensin F.