A new route to 24-nortriterpene derivatives with 2-hydroxy-Δ1,4-cyclohexadien-3-one A-rings fromtriterpene precursors has been demonstrated beginning with betulin to prepare derivatives ofbetulinic acid. The key steps in the transformation are a Suárez cleavage of the A-ring with asubsequent SmI2-mediated pinacol-type coupling to reclose the A-ring following removal of the C-24carbon by oxidative cleavage.