The expeditious route for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene starting from the γ-butyrolactone fused cyclopentane through bicyclo[4.2.1]nonan-9-one is reported. Retro-Dieckmann’s condensation of bicyclo[4.2.1]nonan-9-one in presence of sodium methoxide and methanol furnished γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene in good yield. Surprisingly, the stereochemistry of ring-junction of γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene is different from the γ-butyrolactone fused cyclopentane, and the position of new ester group, which were confirmed unambiguously by X-ray analysis. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.