Abstract The 6-chloro-2-cyclohexenones 3, 6 and 11, and the 5-chloro-2-cyclopentenone 15 were newly synthesized. The results obtained with compounds 3 and 15 in photocycloadditions to olefins show that the oxetane vs. cyclobutane product ratio is reduced by the substitution of florine by chlorine in the α′-position of the enone. No oxetanes are formed in the intramolecular photocycloaddition of 6. Compound 11 does ...