From cyclobutanone 1 12 divinylcyclobutanols were prepared. Substituent effects on the rate of oxy-Cope rearrangement to form cyclooctenones were monitored by NMR. Divinylcyclobutanols 2a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 8a gave first-order rate constants with the rates of rearrangements being in the order 4a< 5a< 2a< 6a< 3a< 8a. Cyclobutanols 7a, 9a, loa, and 12a all rearranged too fast to isolate. The steric effects on the rate of rearrangement and ...