ELUCIDATION OF THE MECHANISM OF TRANSPOSITION OF TRICYCLO[MN0.0(2,M-2,3,M+2-TRIOL DERIVATIVES - THE STEREOCHEMISTRY OF CETOXYTRICYCLO[7.3.0.0(2,7)]DODECAN-8-ONE(1)]ALKA)

The crystal structure analysis of the title compound (8-oxotricyclo[7. 3.0 .02,7]dodec-1-yl acetate, C14H20O3) shows that in the transpositio n reaction causing its formation, the relative positions of the proton s at the ring junctions are maintained, demonstrating that the process is a concerted one. The conformation and relevant structural paramete rs of the molecule, as found in the crystal, are compared with those c alculated by molecular mechanics for the isolated molecule, providing evidence that packing effects exert no significant influence on the mo lecular conformation.