Chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity in acid-catalyzed hydromethoxylation of tricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]hept-1-yl and 7-methyltricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]hept-1-yl phenyl sulfones

Hydromethoxylation of tricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl and 7-methyltricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl phenyl sulfones with methanol at 20°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of perchloric acid is initiated by the endo attack of proton at the C¹ atom, and the subsequent cleavage of the side C¹–C² bond leads to formation of mixtures of diastereoisomeric exo-7-phenylsulfonyl-2-methoxybicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes, the endo-2 isomer prevailing. Probable factors responsible for the observed chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity of the addition are discussed.