The reactivity of bridgehead organo-lithium compounds with three nonenolisable ketones (hexamethylacetone, adamantanone and benzophenone) has been examined in various media. The condensations require use of mixed solvents (pentane-ether or pentane-THF), but secondary products are formed by solvent-attack. The alkylation of the bridgehead structure, by increasing the lipophilicity of the molecule, makes