Various α-nitroepoxides are converted into corresponding 1, 2-diketones via two different ways of ring opening viz. with Pd (O) and with DMSO/BF3· Et2O (or ClSiMe3). In addition to this, a variety of nucleophiles are reacted with α-nitrocyclopentene oxide 6 and α-nitro- cyclohexene oxide 7 to form the corresponding α-substituted ketones which are useful intermediates in organic synthesis. Two of the products so obtained viz. 32 and 33 are ...