Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.2.0]Octa-3,7-Diene-2,5-Diones

The bicyclo4.2.0]octa-3,7-diene-2,5-diones (1) are of interest in that they are valence isomers of 1,4-cyclooctatetraenoquinones. The most obvious route for the formation of such compounds is the 2+2] photoaddition of alkynes to p-benzoquinones. Such a reaction has been observed in the case of 1,4-naphthoquinones. With p-benzoquinones, however, it has been observed in the case of 2-methoxy-p-benzoquinone (2a) alone, while p-benzoquinone (2b) and chloranil (2c) give products derived from addition of acetylenes to a carbonyl rather than an ethylenic bond; ^3,4 such products also accompany the products from 1,4-naphthoquinones referred to above.^1,3