Quadricyclane (1) and 1,8-bishomocubane (2) have been found to undergo valence isomerization to norbornadiene and tricycl0[4.2.2.0~.~]deca-3,7-diene, respectively, on illuminated CdS and ZnO. An electron transfer mechanism is proposed.Quantum yield, solvent effects, the role of oxygen, and the quenching of the reaction were investigated, and were consistent with this interpretation. The thermal reaction of 1 on CdS was also suggested to be an electron transfer process involving, in this case, defects or trapped holes on the surface of the semiconductor. An examination of a series of strained hydrocarbons structurally related to 1 (