Generation and reactions of new ether and acetal functionalized tricyclo[3.3.0.03,7]oct-1(5)-ene derivatives. DSC and NMR studies on the [2+2] retrocycloaddition of several cyclobutane dimers

Two new highly pyramidalized tricyclo[3.3.0.03,7]oct-1(5)-ene derivatives containing ether and acetal functionalities have been generated, trapped as Diels-Alder adducts and dimerized. The initially obtained diene dimers were photochemically converted into cyclobutane derivatives. The thermal reversion of several cyclobutane derivatives to the corresponding dienes has been studied by ¹H NMR, ab initio calculations and DSC. For the first time, transannular additions of bromine and iodine to a diene dimer of this series have been observed.