from the corresponding cyclobutanone (3). An oxy-Coperearrangement of 1b was not observed under any conditions. Both epimers gave the same thermolysis products, a fused cyclohexanone derivative 15 (a formal [1,3] shift product) and vinyl ketone 16 (a retro-ene product). At temperatures above 250 °C some acenaphthylene was also obtained. The anionic oxy-Cope variant gave only 15. A common diradical intermediate