Automerisierung von 1,3,5,5-Tetramethylcyclohexa-1,3-dien. Vorläufige Mitteilung

1,3,5,5-Tetramethylcyclohexa-1,3-diene, specifically deuterated in all positions except the gem.-dimethyl groups ( 11 ), was synthesized and found to undergo a rearrangement in the gas phase at 560°, which leads to a statistical distribution of the 6 hydrogen atoms to all 16 positions. This shows that the title compound ( 2 ) automerizes under these conditions and that the reaction proceeds via a series of ring openings (to 5 ) followed by degenerate [1,7]-H-shifts and rig closures (back to 2 ) rather than via [1,5]-CH₃-shifts. It is suggested that the previously studied rearrangement of 5,5-dimethylcyclohexa-1,3-diene ( 1 ) to 1,5-dimethylcyclohexa-1,3-diene ( 3 ) takes its course by the same reaction pathway.