The Beckmann rearrangement of 2, 2-diniethylcyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, and cycloheptanone oximes has been examined. With either phosphorus pentachloride or thionyl chloride these oximes were cleaved to unsaturated nitriles. Only in the rearrangement of 2, 2-dimethylcyclohexanone oxime on treatment with benxenesulfonyl chloride or thionyl chloride was the lactarn expected from normal rearrangement obtained. ...