2-Ethyl-1-methyl-1-phenyl cyclopentane, unavailable by butyllithium-promoted carbocyclisation of the corresponding alkenyl selenide, has been synthesized from 6- methylseleno-6-phenyl-1-phenylthio-1-heptene and 7-methylseleno-7-phenyl-2-phenylthio- 2-octene with high stereocontrol at all the three stereogenic centers. Depending upon the solvent used, the derivative in which the methyl-and the phenylthiomethyl groups are cis ( ...