Some work leading to syntheses of oestrone is presented. It was generally found necessary to protect the 1-carbonyl function in 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-8β-methylindane-1,5-dione before the introduction of alkyl groups at position 4. Alkylations of 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione have been made and the results compared with similar studies on 2-methylcyclohexane-1,3-dione.