The solvolysis rates and products of several 6-substituted 2-exo-and 2-endo-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl p-toluenesulfonates, 12 and 13, respectively, are reported. Inductivity, as measured by the reaction constants p,, is considerably less in the exo-series 12 (p, = -1 S O ) than in the corresponding 2-exo-norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates 1 (pl = -2.0). It is proposed that, for geometrical reasons, bridging of the cationic center C(2) by C(6) is not as strong in the bicyclooctane series 12 as it is in the norbornane series 1. On the other hand, inductivity is higher in the 2-endo-bicyclooctane series 13 @, = -1.0) than in the corresponding 2-endo-norbornane series 3 @I = 0.78), probably, because in the former case bridging of C(6) is less hindered by the departing anion. The relative yields of exo-and endo-substitution products from the series 12 and 13, are in accord with graded bridging of C(6) in the incipient bicyclooctyl cations. But almost constant bridging of C(2) by C (7) is indicated in the ionization of the 2-endo-hicyclooctane series 13. Consequently, in the free unsubstituted bicyclooctane cation C(2) is bridged symmetrically by C(6) and C(7), in contrast to the current concept of 'nonclassical' two-electron-three-center bonding.According to studies of substituent effects in the solvolysis of the 2-exo-and 2endo-norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates (tosylates) 1 4 , the norbornane structure is anisotropic to the inductive ( I ) effect of substituents [l] [2a]. In fact, an evaluation of the sensitivity of the reaction rates of these tosylates to substituents at C(6) and C(7), i.e. their inductivity p,'), has led to an alternative explanation for the disparate reactivity of 2-ex0 -and 2-endo-norbornyl (NB) derivatives').Inductivity was much larger in the 6-exo-R-2-exo-NB series 1 (pl = -2.0 [la]) than in the 7-anti-R-2-endo series 2 (p, = -0.72 [le]) although the conformations and direct distances are practically the same'). It was, therefore, concluded that through-space ') Inductivity was defined as thc reaction constant p, in the equation log (klk,) = pluq, where k and k, are fmt-order rate consmiits for the substitutcd and unsubstituted tosylates, respectively, in 80% EtOH and u? i s the corresponding inductive substituent constant [3]. For recent reviews, see [2].X-ray data [&I] show that the C(2)-C(7) distance (2.40 A) in 2 is actually shorter than the C(2)-C(6) distancc (2.50 A) in 1. *) ')