Synthesis of Endo,Endo‐2.9‐Dihydroxypentacyclo‐[8.4.0.0^3,8.0^4,14.0^7,11]Tetradeca‐5,12‐Diene

Abstract

The title compound 30 was synthesized starting from the endo,syn,endo Diels‐Alder adduct 3a of hexahydro‐5,6,7,8‐tetrachloro‐9,9‐dimethoxy‐5,8‐methanonaphthalene‐1,4‐diol diacetate 6 and 1,2,3,4‐tetrachloro‐5,5‐dimethoxycyclopentadiene (TDCp) in six steps, keyed upon a symmetry‐allowed [4+4] photocyclization of decahydro‐11,12‐dioxo‐[1,4;5,8]dimethanoanthracene‐9,10‐diol diacetate 22. The epimeric monoacetate 26 related to 22 was also synthesized and their thermolysis and photolysis were investigated. Oxidation of diol 30 afforded hexacyclic bridged hemiacetal 31 as a result of transannular reaction. The structure of hemiacetal 31 was analyzed by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography.