This invention relates to a method of preparing a first alicyclic compound having a vinyl group on one alkyl ring carbon and an alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, heterocycloalkyoxy, aryloxy, or heteroaryloxy group on the same ring carbon; the method comprising reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aromatic alcohol with a second alicyclic compound having an exo cyclic carbon-carbon double bond, wherein the non-ring olefinic carbon is substituted with a hydroxymethyl, thiomethyl, alkoxymethyl, aryloxymethyl, acyloxymethyl, alkylsulfonyloxymethyl, arylsulfonyloxymethyl, alkylsulfonylmethyl, arylsulfonylmethyl, halomethyl, or silyloxymethyl group.