The gas-phase reaction of C20 (32) with 2, 3-dimethyl-2-butene produces 1, 1, 2, 2, 6, 6, 7, 7- octamethyldispiro-[2.1. 2. l] octane-4, 8-dione and 2, 2, 3, 3- tetramethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid as major producb rather than the allenic product characteristic of the reaction with simpler substrates. The positive identification of these molecules provides strong evidence for prior formation of the previously postulated ...