Diels-Alder reactions of highly pyramidalized tricyclo[3.3.0.0]oct-1(5)-ene derivatives: further chemistry of pentacyclo[6.4.0.0.0.0]dodeca-5,8,11-triene

A study of the trapping of highly pyramidalized tricyclo[3.3.0.0^3,7]oct-1(5)-ene derivatives (generated from a 1,2-diiodo precursor on reaction with t-BuLi, 0.45% sodium amalgam and molten sodium) with different dienes (11,12-dimethylene-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene, 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran and furan) is presented. Byproducts from the trapping of pentacyclo[6.4.0.0^2,10.0^3,7.0^4,9]dodeca-5,8,11-triene with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran have been synthesized and fully characterized, including an X-ray diffraction analysis. Also, the above triene has been cross coupled with 3,7-dimethyltricyclo[3.3.0.0^3,7]oct-1(5)ene to give a tetrasecododecahedratetraene derivative.