The pentacycloundecane (PCU) cage structure resembles a perfect boat conformation, and for the first time unique lactam/lactone interconversions on the flagpole carbons of a cyclohexane boat structure are reported. The syntheses of a novel dihydroxy-PCU-delta-lactone and two novel N-substituted PCU-delta-lactams are reported. Hydrolysis of some of the PCU-delta-lactam compounds produced delta-lactones, and reaction of the lactones with ammonia or primary amines again produced delta-lactams. Reaction mechanisms to account for the unusual interconversion reactions induced by transannular interactions are proposed.
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