epoxy halide gave 6 (31%) rather than the anticipated product, 7. The nmr spectrum of the product showed a doublet at 5.75 ppm (-OH), which disappeared upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid. Oxidation of 6 with chromium trioxide in pyridine gave the corresponding ketone (VC= O at 1718 cm-l). A sixmembered rather than a five-membered ring intermediate has been invoked to explain the position of nucleophilic attack (at the least substituted ...