(±)-Modhephene (6) has been synthesized from the easily available trimethylpentalenone 1 in 6 steps in 26% overall yield (Scheme 2). The remarkably smooth 1,4-addition/enolate trapping 1 → 2 and subsequent selenoxide elimination after oxidation furnished the key intermediate 3 which underwent an expedient and highly stereoselctive intramolecular ene-reaction to give the propellane 4, readily convertible to (±)-6.