Abstract: Mixtures of cis and trans isomers have been detected by esr spectroscopy for the symmetrical semidiones RC (O.)=(C (O-) R) where R= CHI, C2H5, n-C3Hi,(CH&CHCH2,( CH&CCH2, and (CH&CH and for the series RC (0.)= C (O-) CH3 where R= C2Hs, n- C3H7,(CH&CCH2,(CH3), CH, and (CH3) 3C. Symmetrical semidiones with R=(CH3CH2) CH,(CH3CH2CH2) 2, and (CH3) C showed only a single (trans) isomer. When both cis ...