The chemical transliteration of Plato's universe-the dodecahedrane-has been synthesized in 23 steps. The key stages of the sequence starting from dichloro diester 2 involve the following: (a) reduction-monoakylation of 2 using chloromethyl phenyl ether to give 7; (b) photocyclization of aldehyde 12 without interference from the geminal side chain; (c) retro-aldol cleavage of keto aldehyde 15; and (d) catalytic dehydrogenation of 19. The single-peak nature of the 'H and 13C NMR spectra of 1 conforms to its ultrahigh (I,,) symmetry. The spherical hydrocarbon exhibits three infrared-active and eight Raman-active bands. The unique physical behavior of 1 upon heating to temperatures above 400 OC is detailed.For centuries, the dodecahedron has been esteemed as the most complex and aesthetically pleasing of the perfect solids of antiquity. In more recent times, scientists have come to regard its molecular transliteration, dodecahedrane (C2,,HH,, 1), as the "Mount Everest u

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The relative gas‐phase basicities of eight reference compounds (α‐methylstyrene, isopropyl ether, n‐pentyl ether, 2,4‐dimethyl‐3‐pentanone, methyl benzoate, n‐butyl ether, methyl trimethylacetate, and methyl cyclopropanecarboxylate) are redetermined by FT/ICR MS and are now self‐consistent to less than 0.8 kJ/mol.

The successful synthesis of a pentagonal dodecahedrane molecule has been achieved. Obtained by a sequence of 20 stereochemically controlled steps beginning with the readily available cyclopentadienide anion, the 1,16-dimethyl derivative has D(3d) symmetry and unusual physical properties. The x-ray crystal structure shows that the alkyl groups cause only small distortions from pure dodecahedral symmetry.

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