The Pagodane Route to Dodecahedranes: Total Synthesis and Chemistry of 4,9,14,19-Tetrasubstituted [1.1.1.1]Pagodanes

The tetraketone 1 and the dimethoxydiketone 2, R = CH3, could prove to be important intermediates en route to dodecahedranes. They can be prepared in several steps in good yield from 7‐tert‐butoxynorbornadiene and tetrachlorocyclopentadienone dimethyl ketal. According to force field calculations the four sp2‐hybridized C atoms in 1 should facilitate thermal cleavage of the central four‐membered ring and a subsequent hydrogenation.