R. SRINIVASAN AND A. A. LEVI
3756
[ a ] " D -80.4', and 0.897 g.(4.63 mmoles) of t-butyl perbenzoate in 5 ml. of benzene was added 5 mg. of cuprous bromide. The solution was refluxed for 30 min. during which time it turned blue. The reaction mixture was added to 500 ml. of water and the product was isolated by continuous extraction with pentane. The residual bicyclo[3.2.l]oct-3-en-2-yl benzoate was completely inactive.'* Saponification of the residual benzoate (methanolic KOH) gave 0.337 g. (57%) of bicyclo[3.2.l]oct-3-en-2-o1which was also completely racemic.'* This product was shown to be >99.1% ero (quasi-axial)-bicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-3-en-2-o1 ( I I I d ) and
