The isomeric 4-methylene-1-pyrazolines cis-and trans-2 are synthesized by a Wittig reaction from the pyrazolin-4-ones cisand trans-1, respectively. Direct irradiation with 350-nm light of cis-2 affords the alkylidenecyclopropanes cis-8, (E)-and (4-9 (64: 17: 19) besides molecular nitrogen and small amounts of the 4-methylenepyrazolidine cis-7 as a result of photoreduction. Under the same conditions, trans-2 is converted into trans-8 as well as (E)-and (4-9 (64: 14: 22). The configurations of cis-and trans-8 have been established by means of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with mesityl nitrile oxide which furnishes two cycloadducts from cis-8, e.g. cis-14A and B, but only one cycloadduct from trans-8, viz. trans-14. The configurations of (4-and (3-9 have been assigned on the basis of homoallylic 'H,'H coupling constants and nuclear Overhauser ~ experiments. The results demonstrate that, on the least-motion paths leading to cis-and trans-8, the configuration of the ring substituents in cis-and trans-2 is completely retained. Of the non-least-motion products (E)-and (a-9 the latter is favoured regardless of the configuration of the precursors cis-and trans-2 though the extent of (Z) selectivity depends on that configuration. The results are interpreted in terms of bis-orthogonal trimethylenemethane diradicals as primary intermediates from which irreversible paths bifurcate. Cyclization yields cis-8 (from cis-2) or trans-8 (from trans-2) and 9V-bond rotations afford two diastereomeric mono-orthogonal trimethylenemethane diradicals [(E)-and (3-181 which eventually cyclize to the corresponding non-least-motion products (4-9 and (z)-9.For a long time, stereochemical evidence has contributed significantly to the elucidation of chemical reaction pathways3). In particular, the extent of retention of configuration has served as a demanding criterion for the distinction of one-step from two-step cycloaddition and cycloreversion reactions. Retention of configuration has been associated with either concertedness or two-step reactions via intermediates which cyclize very fast compared to the rate of bond rotation4). Van Auken and Rinehart, Jr., were the first to apply this criterion to the photoextrusion of molecular nitrogen from cisltrans-isomeric 1 -pyrazolines and observed a preference for retention of configuration in the cyclopropane products'). Bartlett and Porter studied the stereochemical consequences of the photoextrusion of an azo group from a six-membered ring6). An excellent review by Givens summarizes the stereochemical results of the photoextrusion of small molecules ' ). No attention, however, has been paid as yet to the steric course of ring closure following the loss of molecular nitrogen from 4-alkylidene-I -pyrazolines. This is all the more surprising as their thermolysis and photolysis have been thoroughly studied in numerous investigations8-12) which have received additional impetus from the interest in trimethylenemethane diradicals 13). We now report that the photolysis of diastereomeric 4-methylene-1-pyrazo...