1. The epimeric equilibrium compositions obtained depend on whether an equimolar or a catalytic amount of alkali is supplied.

2. Hydrolysis and acetolysis of 8-bromo-1-hydroxydi-isophor-2(7)-en-3-one yields both epimeric forms of the corresponding 4-hydroxy and 4-acetoxy-compounds, probably by a mechanism involving a bimolecular (SN2′′) displacement.

3. Its preparation involved reductive lithium aluminum hydride ring opening of 3,4-anhydro-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene- D-talitol, followed by hydrolysis of the resulting epimeric deoxy diisopropylidene hexitols and selective Acetobacter suboxydans oxidation of 3-deoxy-D-arabinohexitol.

4. The acetolysis-inversion reaction has been carried out with 2,3;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-gulofuranose, 2,3;6,7-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glycero-D-gulo-heptose, 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-ribose, D-ribose, and D-mannose using chromatography for isolation of the deacetylated epimeric products.