This invention relates to unsaturated alicyclic carbonyl compounds of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein R is C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl; or R is vinyl or a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alkenyl; X is carbonyl or a divalent radical --(CMe.sub.2)--; and Y is oxygen or a divalent radical --(CH.sub.2)--.