[wiseman]

My goal is to provide a mechanism for an intramolecular Michael Addition. The reaction is as follows: reacted with NaOET over EtOH to give

I am stumped, as I do not know whether I deprotonate the alpha carbon to the right of the first carbonyl group, or if I add the ethyl group to it. Once there, I still do not know how I am supposed to create multiple rings. Any and all help will be vastly appreciated.

[mjc123]

There isn't an ethyl group to add to anything. (Did you mean ethoxy?) Yes, you deprotonate that carbon. What does the resulting anion do next (hint: you yourself said "intramolecular Michael addition")? Draw the product of that reaction (before workup). What can that go on to do?