1-bromo-2-chlorocyclopropene--A new cycloproparene synthon. Synthesis of 1H-Cyclopropa[b]phenanthrene

Treatment of 1-bromo-2,2-dichloro(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropane (2) with tetra-$\text{n}$-butylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran yields 1-bromo-2-chlorocyclopropene (1). 1H-Cyclopropab]phenanthrene (3) can be prepared by aromatization of the Diels-Alder adduct of 1 and 1,2-dimethylene-3,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydronaphthalene (6) using DDQ followed by potassium $\text{t}$-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran.