C-13-NMR spectra of a series of acyclic, monocyclic and polycyclic ketones and diketones serve as a basis for investigating transannular orbital interaction in diketones. The shielding of the C-13=O resonance frequency of the diketone relative to the monoketone which can be observed in all cases, depends on factors such as the number of intervening sigma-bonds, relative orientation of the carbonyl groups and intervening sigma-bonds.