The first enantiospecific total synthesis of the tricyclic sesquiterpene (+)-seychellene, starting from (R)-carvone via (S)-3-methylcarvone, has been accomplished employing a combination of an intermolecular Michael addition-intramolecular Michael addition sequence and an intramolecular alkylation reaction for the generation of the two vicinal quaternary carbon atoms. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.