Intramolecular carbolithiation cascades as a route to a highly strained carbocyclic framework: competition between 5-exo-trig ring closure and proton transfer

• William F. Bailey and
• Justin D. Fair

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 537–543, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.59

• [3.3.0.03,7]octane) framework by an intramolecular carbolithiation cascade involving three coupled 5-exo-trig cyclizations of the vinyllithium derived from 2-bromo-4-vinyl-1,6-heptadiene by lithium–bromine exchange was investigated. The cascade does not afford the stellane; rather, the cascade is terminated

• temperature. Keywords: carbolithiation cascade; carbometallation; intramolecular carbolithiation; intermolecular proton transfer; lithium–halogen exchange; strained hydrocarbons; Introduction The first publication describing an intramolecular carbolithiation appeared in 1968: Drozd and co-workers reported

• constructing a highly strained system by an intramolecular carbolithiation cascade involving three coupled 5-exo-trig cyclizations. Although many strained molecules could have been selected for this exploration, the stellane framework (tricyclo[3.3.0.03,7]octane [18][19]), 1, with its mesmerizing symmetry, was