Samarium(II) iodide has been employed to promote a tandem intramolecular nucleophilic acyl substitution/intramolecular ketyl-olefin coupling cyclization sequence, generating bicyclic, tricyclic, and spirocyclic ring systems in excellent yield and with high diastereoselectivity. This versatile reaction sequence allows entry to several different naturally occurring tricyclic systems containing the angular and linear triquinane framework.