Carbonyl groups at positions C2 and C3 enhance stereochemical inversion at C7 in norbornane compounds

It is known that the presence of a carbonyl group at C2 in norbornane compounds aids in the SN2 displacement of substituents at C7. In this study, we report a significant enhancement in reactivity at C7 by a second carbonyl group at C3. These diketones undergo rapid inversion at 80°C, while the monoketone does not exhibit any reactivity at this temperature. The increase in reactivity is attributed to electric field effects.