Abstract: An investigation of the photolysis of bicyclo [5.2. l] decan-l0-one (1) and 1, 7- dimethylbicyclo [5.2. 1]-decan-10-one (16) has shown that, while the initial scission occurs between the carbonyl carbon and the a-carbon, the ensuing steps differ for the two ketones. Compound 1, containing a-hydrogens, undergoes transannular hydrogen migration to yield a ketene which, in turn, is susceptible to further photolysis and yields cis-cyclononene (4), ...
