General approach for the synthesis of polyquinenes via the weiss reaction. Preparation of the chiral tetracyclo [6.6.0.01,5.08,12]tetradecane-3,6,10,13,-tetraene

The aldol approach to construct the tetracyclic polyquinane skeleton of $\text{12}$, followed by hydroboration and the HMPA mediated dehydration of four hydroxyl groups has resulted in the facile synthesis of the chiral polyquinene, tetracyclo6.6.0.0^1,5.0^8,12]-tetradecane-3,6,10,13-tetraene $\text{2}$. This method completely avoids the troublesome fragmentation reactions earlier encountered when the strained tetraone $\text{9}$ was reacted with nucleophilic reagents.