The disappearance of 1-and 3-nortricyclanols (1-OH and 2-OH) in aqueous perchloric acid was followed by capillary GC at different temperatures and acid concentrations. 1-OH is ca 1000 times more reactive than 2-OH. The activation parameters, solvent deuterium isotope effects and parameters of excess acidity equations were measured and the products were studied. Both isomeric nortricyclanols react according to the Ad E 2 mechanism, i.e. the cyclopropane ring is protonated at the rate-determining stage of the reaction. The protonation causes, in the case of 1-OH, an isomerization called homoketonization with 2-norbornanone as the only product and, in the case of 2-OH, hydration, i.e. the formation of hydroxyl-substituted norbornyl cations, the fast attack of which by water produces several norbornanediols.