Abstract Spiroelliptin, a spiro [cyclohexadienone-1, 1′-tetralin] from Iryanthera elliptica, was synthesized by a novel process which involved the catalytic hydrogenation of the appropriate chalcone. This and other spiro [methoxycyclobexadienone-1, 1′-tetralin] derivatives, obtained by the same process or by the oxidative coupling of the appropriate 1, 3-diarylpropanes, were used as models in the compilation of 1 H and 13 C NMR data ...