The racemic sesquiterpene isocomene ( 1) has been synthesized starting from 1,7-octadien-3-one ( 2) in a stereoselective manner (Scheme 2). In the key step 4 → 5 the C(7), C(8)-bond was formed by an intramolecular thermal ene reaction. Further elaboration of 5 involved the ring contraction 6 → 7, the elimination 8 → 9 and the final olefin isomerization 9 → 1.