A wide range of rare polycyclic hydrocarbons can be obtained through catalytic processes involving norbornadiene (NBD). The problem of selectivity is crucial for such reactions. The feasibility of controlling<br />selectivity and reaction rate has been shown for cyclic dimerization, co-dimerization, isomerization and allylation of NBD. Kinetic rules have been scrutinized. Consistent mechanisms have been proposed. Factors<br />affecting directions of the reactions and allowing us to obtain individual stereoisomers quantitatively, have been established. A series of novel unsaturated compounds has been synthesized; they incorporate a<br />set of double bonds with different reactivity and can find an extremely wide range of applications.