Abstract Spiro [4, 5] deca-2, 7-diene-1, 6-dione (2a) and spiro [5, 5] undeca-2, 8-diene-1, 7- dione (2b) were prepared by a direct synthesis starting from diethyl malonate. The two-step 1, 2-reductions (NaBH 4/CeCl 3) of the diones gave cis/trans-diols, which could be easily transformed into diacetates. Both diacetates were subjected to Pd (0)-catalyzed allylic alkylations, in which the relative stereochemistry was retained.