Lucidene is a natural product isolated from the root bark of Uvaria lucidassp. The co-isolation of ?-humulene from the same species led to speculation that lucidene is the product of two consecutive, inverse demand hetero Diels-Alder cycloadditions of ? -humulene with two equivalents of o-quinone methide. A biomimetic approach to the synthesis of lucidene is portrayed, with the elimination of water from  hydroxymethyl-orcinol, providing the driving force for the generation of the o-quinone methide.