Irradiation of enol benzoates with a low pressure mercury lamp was studied. Irradiation of isopropenyl benzoate (I) and the steroidal enol benzoate, XV and XVI, gave the rearranged products, benzoylacetone (II) and α-benzoylketones XVII and XXI respectively. However, irradiation of cyclohexen-1-yl benzoate (III) and its 6-methyl derivative VIII resulted in ring cleavage, as well as benzoyl migration