Gas phase thermal reactions of exo-8-cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene (1-exo)

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules19021527

The title compound 1-exo (with minor amounts of its C8 epimer 1-endo) was prepared by Wolff-Kishner reduction of the cycloadduct of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and cyclopropylketene. The [1,3]-migration product 2-endo was synthesized by efficient selective cyclopropanation of endo-5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene at the exocyclic π-bond. Gas phase thermal reactions of 1-exo afforded C8 epimerization to 1-endo, [1,3]- migrations to 2-exo and 2-endo, direct fragmentation to cyclohexadiene and vinylcyclopropane, and CPC rearrangement in the following relative kinetic order: kep > k13 > kf > kCPC.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules19021527

Molecules 2014, 19, 1527-1543; doi:10.3390/molecules19021527
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Gas Phase Thermal Reactions of exo-8-Cyclopropyl-
bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene (1-exo)
Phyllis A. Leber 1,*, Anthony J. Nocket 1, William Hancock-Cerutti 1, Christopher Y. Bemis 1,
Wint Khant Khine 1, Joseph A. Mohrbacher III 1 and John E. Baldwin 2
1
Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA;
E-Mails: ajn5014@psu.edu (A.J.N.); william.hancock-cerutti@fandm.edu (W.H.-C.);
christopher.bemis@fandm.edu (C.Y.B.); wintkhant.khine@fandm.edu (W.K.K.);
joseph.mohrbacher@fandm.edu (J.A.M.)
2
Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-4100, USA;
E-Mail: jbaldwin@syr.edu
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: phyllis.leber@fandm.edu;
Tel.: +1-717-291-3801; Fax: +1-717-291-4343.
Received: 19 December 2013; in revised form: 10 January 2014 / Accepted: 15 January 2014 /
Published: 27 January 2014
Abstract: The title compound 1-exo (with minor amounts of its C8 epimer 1-endo) was
prepared by Wolff-Kishner reduction of the cycloadduct of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and
cyclopropylketene. The [1,3]-migration product 2-endo was synthesized by efficient
selective cyclopropanation of endo-5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene at the exocyclic π-bond.
Gas phase thermal reactions of 1-exo afforded C8 epimerization to 1-endo, [1,3]- migrations to
2-exo and 2-endo, direct fragmentation to cyclohexadiene and vinylcyclopropane, and CPC
rearrangement in the following relative kinetic order: kep > k13 > kf > kCPC
.
Keywords: gas phase reaction; thermal chemistry; [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement;
[1,3]-carbon migration; CPC rearrangement
1. Introduction
Vinylcyclobutanes undergo ring expansion to cyclohexenes. Woodward and Hoffmann, in their
Conservation of Orbital Symmetry treatise, formally classified this type of skeletal rearrangement as a
[1,3]-sigmatropic carbon migration [1]. For a given vinylcyclobutane leading from a migrating carbon

Molecules 2014, 19
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to a migration terminus, four discrete products could be formed by si, sr, ai, and ar routes. These
designations refer to the potential for inversion (i) or retention (r) of configuration at the migrating
carbon and suprafacial (s) or antarafacial (a) sigma bond formation at the migration terminus relative
to the disposition of the original sigma bond with respect to the π bond framework. According to the
Woodward-Hoffmann selection rules, the two symmetry-allowed products are si and ar, and the two
symmetry-forbidden products are sr and ai. Given the geometric prohibition of antarafacial migration
in bicyclic vinylcyclobutanes, only si and sr products can form without effecting excessive
distortions of the molecular carbon skeleton. Although a one-step concerted process may have been
assumed under orbital symmetry control of the vinylcyclobutane-to-cyclohexene rearrangement, recent
experimental and computational studies converge toward a stepwise diradical mechanistic analysis [2].
Thermal reactions of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes and bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes, despite their
homologous relationship, afford different product stereoselectivities as well as preferred exit channels.
The si/sr ratios for the more conformationally labile bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes are lower than those
reported for bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes [3]. The relative kinetic importance of the observed exit
channels for bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes labeled with a deuterium [4], methyl [5], or methoxy [3] at a
migrating carbon is kep > kf ≥ k13. The abbreviation kep represents the rate of epimerization or one-centered
stereomutation at C8; kf, the rate of direct fragmentation; k13, the total rate of [1,3]- sigmatropic
migration including both si and sr products. This order is markedly different from the observation that
[1,3]-carbon shifts afford the dominant products in the corresponding bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes [3,6,7]. An
early review of [1,3]-carbon rearrangements offered a significant prediction of the role of exit channels
such as fragmentation and epimerization in the mechanistic assessment process: “The nature of exit
channels such as fragmentations and stereomutations, which are undoubtedly mediated by diradical
transition structures, are important in the formulation of a consistent mechanistic framework” [2].
The current mechanistic formulation for the vinylcyclobutane–to–cyclohexene rearrangement is a
stepwise diradical process. Representations of this mechanism for the parent compound
bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene are provided in Scheme 1, which shows that bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene can either
isomerize via a [1,3]-shift to bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene or fragment to 1,3-cyclohexadiene and ethylene [4].
Due to the presence of a stereochemical marker at C8, the analog exo-8-cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-
2-ene (1-exo) can undergo [1,3]-sigmatropic migration to the si (2-exo) and sr (2-endo) products or C8
epimerization to 1-endo (Scheme 2). The presence of a cyclopropyl substituent at C8 in 1-exo affords a
unique potential for cyclopropylcarbinyl (CPC)-to-homoallylic radical rearrangement of diradical A to
diradical B (Scheme 3). Whereas key aspects of what transpires in a cyclopropylcarbinyl (CPC)-to-
homoallylic radical rearrangement have been established for decades, this phenomenon has not yet
been recognized in diradical species. Although no CPC rearrangement products were observed in the
thermal reaction of exo-7-cyclopropylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene, the argument that bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-
enes might yield diradical transition structures with more “weakly interacting radical centers” [3]
suggests the potential for 1-exo to form a CPC product such as bicyclo[5.2.2]undeca-3,8-diene, CPC-1
(Scheme 3).

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Scheme 1. Gas Phase Reaction of Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene.
[1,3]
fragmentation
+
Scheme 2. Gas Phase Reactions of 1-exo.
C7-C8 rotation
C1-C8 cleavage
1
3
3
7
7
1
1
8
8
8
A
A'
1-exo
[1,3]
C3-C8 closure
C1-C8 closure
3
+
1-endo
2-exo (si)
2-endo (sr)
Scheme 3. Potential CPC Ring Closure Product CPC-1.
CPC
3
7
3
1
1
8
1-exo
A
B
C3 closure
3
1
B
CPC-1
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Syntheses and Spectral Characterizations
Conversion of commercially available cyclopropylacetonitrile to cyclopropylacetyl chloride was
accomplished by subjecting the nitrile to base-catalyzed hydrolysis [8], followed by reaction with
thionyl chloride. Synthetic entry to the bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene skeleton of 1-exo (Scheme 4) was

Molecules 2014, 19
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achieved via ketene cycloaddition of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with cyclopropylketene, which was generated
by treatment of cyclopropylacetyl chloride with triethylamine. A low-temperature Wolff-Kishner
reduction subsequently converted the cyclobutanone hydrazone to a methylene moiety [9]. The basic
conditions of the Wolff-Kishner reduction also resulted in epimerization at C8 to afford predominantly
1-exo. The GC retention time for the minor epimer 1-endo, which was present prior to purification,
was diagnostic for identification of the 1-endo product that resulted from C8 epimerization of 1-exo.
Preparative GC subsequently produced 1-exo in greater than 99% purity by GC analysis.
Scheme 4. Synthesis of exo-8-Cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene (1-exo).
1
13
The H- and C-NMR spectra of 1-exo and its ketone precursor 3 appear distinctive due to the
upfield signals for the cyclopropyl hydrogens and associated carbons. Whereas the 1H-NMR spectrum
of 1-exo exhibits three signals between 0.0 and 0.9 ppm for the five cyclopropyl hydrogens, the ketone
3 shows five unique signals between 0.1 and 0.8 ppm, each integrating for one hydrogen. While the
13C-NMR spectra of both 1-exo and 3 have three shielded carbon signals, the cyclopropyl methine in
ketone 3 appears considerably more upfield at 6.5 ppm relative to the corresponding methine in 1-exo
at 15.5 ppm due to the phenomenon of endo shielding [6,10].
Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and acrolein with boron
trifluoride yielded bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-carboxaldehyde (4) [5] almost exclusively as the endo
epimer when the reaction was terminated between 2 and 4 h (Scheme 5). Wittig methylenation afforded
5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (5), whose 13C-NMR spectrum revealed four downfield and six
upfield signals. In contrast to our failed attempt to secure 5-cyclopropylnorbornene by selective kinetic
cyclopropanation of vinylnorbornene [11] using the Furukawa modification of the Simmons-Smith
reaction [12], identical conditions resulted in excellent conversion of 5 to 5-cyclopropylbicyclo-
[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (2). Our explanation for this high degree of regioselectivity is that the syn-hydrogens
on the saturated -CH2CH2- bridge obstruct the exo face of the endocyclic olefin from reacting with the
carbenoid complex. Similarly, the endo-vinyl group must also block the endo face of the endocyclic
olefin. We thus observed relatively little endocyclic monocyclopropanation or dicyclopropanation,
even when the reaction was allowed to proceed at room temperature. The reaction however ultimately
reached a “steady state” when the ratio of 2-endo:5 was 1.7:1. Preparative GC separation ultimately
produced 2-endo in greater than 98% purity by GC.
The structure proof for 2-endo relies heavily on NMR analysis. Five cyclopropyl hydrogens are
1
observed between 0.0 and 0.5 ppm in the H-NMR spectrum, and the cyclopropyl carbons appear

Molecules 2014, 19
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13
13
upfield of 20 ppm in the C-NMR spectrum. In addition, the C-NMR spectrum has two downfield
signals between 132 and 135 ppm and six upfield signals between 24 and 45 ppm. Just as the methyl
carbon in endo-5-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene appears more downfield relative to the corresponding
carbon in exo-5-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene [5], the cyclopropyl methine in 2-endo resonates at
18.1 ppm; in 2-exo it resonates at 15.6 ppm. A sample of 2-endo heated at 275 °C for 30 h did not
undergo any observable thermal reaction. Due to this apparent thermal stability of compound 2 at 275 °C,
13C-NMR data for 2-exo were obtained from a 120-h thermal reaction of 1-exo exhibiting signals
corresponding to both 2-exo and 2-endo.
Scheme 5. Synthesis of endo-5-Cyclopropylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (2-endo).
The identity of a CPC product eluting at 12.3 min, a retention time intermediate between that of
2-exo (11.8 min) and 1-exo (12.8 min), is suggestive of a bicyclic rather not a monocyclic structure.
The potential bicyclic CPC product CPC-1 identified in Scheme 3, or perhaps another CPC product,
might yield distinctive mass spectral fragmentation patterns consistent with what was observed for the
sole CPC product. The base peak at m/z 79 has been ascribed to the 1,3-cyclohexadienyl cation that
forms from the cyclohexenyl radical cation by loss of a hydrogen atom. Similarly, the pentenyl radical
cation at m/z 68 can undergo loss of a hydrogen atom to form the 1,3-pentadienyl cation. More minor
fragments correspond to a C7H10 radical cation at m/z 94 due to extrusion of 1,3-butadiene from the
molecular ion and to a C9H12 radical cation at m/z 120 due to loss of ethylene from the molecular ion.
Definitive characterization of CPC-1 is based on independent synthesis using the synthetic route
outlined in Scheme 6. Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-one (6), a known compound, was prepared in high
purity but low yield by Diels-Alder reaction of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 2-chloroacrylonitrile followed
by base-catalyzed hydrolysis [4,13]. Tiffaneau-Demjanov rearrangement to bicyclo[3.2.2]non-6-en-2-
one (7) [14,15] was accomplished in 30% overall yield. Using the methodology of Uyehara [16],
bicyclo[5.2.2]undec-8-en-4-one (8) was synthesized in 37% crude yield by treatment of compound 7
with vinylmagnesium bromide to effect transformation of the ketone moiety to a tertiary vinyl alcohol
followed by a tandem sequence of alkoxide-promoted [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement and Cope

Molecules 2014, 19
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rearrangement. Conversion of 8 to CPC-1 occurred through formation of the tosylhydrazone derivative
of the ketone and subsequent Shapiro modification of the Bamford-Stevens reaction [17].
Scheme 6. Synthesis of Potential CPC Product CPC-1.
An isomer of another potential CPC product, bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-3,8-diene, was prepared using
the synthetic methodology outlined in Scheme 7. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1,3-butadiene and
cyclohept-2-enone in toluene using AlCl3 as a Lewis acid catalyst [18] proceeded in 47% yield. The
resultant Diels-Alder cycloadduct bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-9-en-2-one (9) was obtained as a single product
isomer after purification by column chromatography. Tosylhydrazone derivatization followed by the
Shapiro modification of the Bamford-Stevens reaction resulted in bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-2,9-diene (10)
as the sole thermal product, which eluted at 16.2 min using a standard GC program and, unlike the
CPC thermal product that eluted at 12.3 min, exhibited a prominent mass spec fragment at m/z 94 due
to a cycloheptadienyl radical cation. We assumed, given the comparability in carbon framework
between compound 10 and bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-3,8-diene, that 10 and bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-3,8-diene
would have similar GC retention times and mass spectral fragmentation patterns.
Scheme 7. Synthesis of Bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-2,9-diene (10).
2.2. Thermal Reactions and Kinetic Analyses
The thermal reactions of 1-exo, as shown in Scheme 8, were followed at 275 °C in sealed base-treated
capillary tubes that had been subjected to three freeze-pump-thaw cycles prior to closure. Capillary GC
analysis provided relative concentration versus reaction time data for 1-exo and for all isomeric
products. As seen in Figure 1, all components were well-resolved and eluted in the following order:
pentane < 1,3-cyclohexadiene < 2-endo < 2-exo < CPC-1 < 1-exo < 1-endo < dodecane internal

Molecules 2014, 19
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standard (ISTD). The value of the rate constant for overall loss of 1-exo, k0 = 3.14 × 10−5 s−1, and its
component rate constants were obtained using the Solver function in Microsoft Excel to fit
experimental concentrations to the first-order exponential rate expressions based on the kinetic profile
shown in Scheme 8. All other rate constants determined accordingly are as follows: ksi = 5.25 × 10−6 s−1,
ksr = 2.92 × 10−6 s−1, kep = 1.9 × 10−5 s−1, k'f = 7.3 × 10−5 s−1, and kCPC = 6.5 × 10−7 s−1. The si/sr
value thus derived from ksi and ksr is 1.8, and k13 = ksi + ksr = 8.2 × 10−6 s−1. The rate of direct
fragmentation kf, as determined by curve fitting, is 2.9 × 10−6 s−1. The difference between k0 and the
sum k13 + kep + kCPC approximated kf as 3.5 × 10−6 s−1. The relative order of importance of all kinetic
processes is kep > k13 > kf > k CPC (Table 1).
Figure 1. Capillary GC analysis of thermal reactions of 1-exo @ 275 °C. At t = 0 h,
the elution order is pentane < 1-exo < ISTD. At t = 10 h, the elution order is
pentane < 1,3-cyclohexadiene < 2-endo < 2-exo < CPC-1 < 1-exo < 1-endo < ISTD.
Scheme 8. Gas Phase Thermal Profile of 1-exo.
ksi
kep
2-exo
8
1-exo
8
1-endo
ksr
k'f
kCPC
kf
+
2-endo
CPC-1
fragmentation
products

Molecules 2014, 19
Table 1. Exit Channels for exo-8-Substituted Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes.
1534
Entry # Subst. % epim % frag % [1,3] k13/kf kisom/kf Rel. Rates Ref. #
1
D-
67
47
46
61
22
38
26
9
11
15
28
27
0.5
0.4
1.1
3.0
3.5
1.6
2.8
9.8
kep > kf > k13
kep > kf > k13
kep > kf ~ k13
kep > k13 > kf
4
5
3
2
3
CH3-
CH3O-
4 (1-exo)
According to Houk [19], “the dynamics of bond rotations on flat potential energy surfaces have
significant influence on product distributions.” Due to the reversal in relative importance of [1,3]-
rearrangement and fragmentation, the thermal profile of 1-exo obviously differs from that of other
bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes (Table 1). The exit channel data in Table 1 reveal a diminished contribution
of fragmentation to the thermal manifold of 1-exo rather than enhanced [1,3]-migrations. The resultant
k13/kf ratio for 1-exo (entry 4) is 3.0, the highest among the four entries in Table 1. This observation is
consistent with our previous assertion [3] that “the k13/kf ratio might represent a qualitative measure of
the inward migratory aptitude of the migrating carbon.” We attribute the low contribution from
fragmentation to steric interaction, which could be alleviated when C8 undergoes an endo trajectory,
between the exo-cyclopropyl substituent at C8 and the syn-hydrogens at the other three cyclobutane
carbons. While the absolute contribution from [1,3]-carbon shifts is no greater for 1-exo than for the
exo-methoxy substrate (entry 3), the extent of epimerization is also greater for 1-exo. It should be
noted that the isomerization process that affords the epimeric product is also a likely outcome of
inward migration. A rough measure of inward versus outward migration for C8 can be obtained by
dividing the sum of the rate constants for formation of isomeric products (kisom = kep + k13) by the rate
constant for formation of the fragmentation product (kf), as seen in the next to last column in Table 1.
Based on this crude analysis, the inward:outward ratio for 1-exo is ca. 10:1 for entry 4 compared to a
value of ca. 3:1 for entry 3.
Kinetic data reveal low stereoselectivity (Table 2, entry 3, column 5) and high reactivity (Table 3,
entry 2, column 4) for reactant 1-exo. The si/sr value of 1.8 for 1-exo is consistent with a longer-lived
transition structure that can undergo more extensive rotation before the migrating carbon reaches the
migration terminus and collapses to form the si or sr products. The same stereochemical trends are also
apparent for the bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes (Table 2, column 4). Paradoxically, 1-exo experiences
relatively high reactivity, presumably due to conjugative stabilization of the rate-determining step
transition state [11]. The potential stabilization that the cyclopropyl substituent offers the rate-
determining transition structure might well prolong its lifetime, making 1-exo anomalous with respect
to the dependence of angular momentum on the mass of the substituent attached to C8. Carpenter has
argued that C6-C7 bond torsion exerts the dominant influence on the “sense of rotation” of the
migrating carbon C7 during [1,3]-carbon shifts in exo-7-substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes (11),
Scheme 9 [20]. In principle, substituents on C7 of greater mass should slow the C6-C7 rotation, thus
affording greater stereoselectivity as determined by the si/sr ratio [3].

Molecules 2014, 19
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Table 2. Stereoselectivity of [1,3]-Shifts in Bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes and
Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes.
Entry # Subst. Mass si/sr [3.2.0] si/sr [4.2.0] Ref. #
1
2
3
4
CH3O-
CH3-
31
15
41
2
21
7
3.2
2.4
3
5
5
1.8 (1-exo)
1.4
D-
3
4
Table 3. Kinetic Data for Thermal Reactions of exo-8-Substituted Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes
@ 275 °C.
+
Entry # Subst. Subst Const σp k0 [4.2.0] (s−1) log k0 [4.2.0] Ref. #
1
CH3O-
−0.65
−0.48
−0.31
0.00
4.3 × 10−5
3.1 × 10−5
1.5 × 10−5
1.7 × 10−6
−4.37
−4.51
−4.82
−5.77
3
2 (1-exo)
3
4
CH3-
H-
5
4
A linear free energy relationship analysis of exo-substituted bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes (Table 3 and
Figure 2), as previously conducted for the exo-substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes, also shows that
+
the logarithm of the respective rate constants correlates well with the substituent constant σp , which
possesses a large resonance contribution that can stabilize an electron-deficient radical center [11].
Although the negative slopes have comparable magnitudes, the presence of a minor contribution from
a CPC product in the thermal profile of 1-exo suggests that the radical centers in the purported
transition structure are less closely associated, thus affording greater potential for a CPC-to-homoallylic
radical rearrangement in 1-exo compared to exo-7-cyclopropylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene [11].
Scheme 9. Structures of Compounds 11 and 12.
It is noteworthy that only one CPC product actually forms. A similar outcome was observed in the
thermal chemistry of spiro[bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-6,1'-cyclopropane] (12) in that only one of two
potential CPC rearrangement products was observed [21]. The justification for this phenomenon was
based on the assumption of a short lifetime for the resultant homoallylic radical that would preclude
the exploration of all possible conformational space. We argued that the primary alkyl radical is
sufficiently reactive that it will preferentially close at one end or the other of the allylic radical moiety
depending on its proximity relative to the timing of the CPC rearrangement. A similar rationale might
well account for the exclusive formation of CPC-1 if the conversion of transition structure A to
transition structure B (Scheme 3) occurs during an endo trajectory. If so, then the primary alkyl moiety

Molecules 2014, 19
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of the homoallylic radical is significantly closer to C3 than to C1 of the allylic radical subunit of
diradical B.
Figure 2. Hammett Plot for Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes.
0
-0.7
-0.6
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
y = -2.2103x - 5.6632
R² = 0.9451
Sigma p+
3. Experimental
3.1. General Information
Commercial reagents of high purity were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Milwaukee, WI, USA)
and used without further purification. Unless otherwise indicated, all reactions were performed under
an inert atmosphere of argon. Sigma-Aldrich silica gel, grade 923 (100–200 mesh), was used for flash
column chromatography. NMR spectra were acquired on a Agilent INOVA 500 MHz instrument
(Santa Clara, CA, USA). 13C-NMR hydrogen multiplicities for all compounds were obtained by a
DEPT pulse sequence. All GC analyses were acquired on an HP cross-linked methyl silicone column
(50 m × 0.2 mm i.d. × 0.10 µm film thickness). Preparative GC separations were accomplished on a
GOW-MAC 580 GC.
3.2. Thermal Reactions
Thermal reactions of hydrocarbon 1-exo were carried out at 275.0 °C (with temperature control to ±
0.1 °C provided by a Bayley Precision Temperature Controller Model 124) in based-treated capillary
tubes immersed in a molten salt bath (composed of a eutectic mixture of NaNO2 and KNO3).
Temperatures were measured with an Omega DP11 thermocouple with a digital readout to ± 0.1 °C.
Run times were measured to ± 0.01 min with a Precision Solid State Time-it. The internal standard
(ISTD) was dodecane. Thermolysis samples were analyzed on an HP 5890A GC equipped with an HP
cross-lined methyl silicone column (50 m × 0.2 mm i.d. × 0.10 µm film thickness) operating at an
initial temperature of 100 °C held for 1 min followed by a temperature ramp of 0.1 °C/min to a
maximum temperature of 150 °C. Retention times (min) were as follows: 11.4 (2-endo), 11.8 (2-exo),
12.3 (CPC-1), 12.8 (1-exo), 13.0 (1-endo), 15.5 (ISTD).

Molecules 2014, 19
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3.3. Preparation of 1-exo (Scheme 4)
Cyclopropylacetic Acid. The methodology of Fenick and Falvey [8] was employed for the hydrolysis
of commercially available cyclopropylacetonitrile. 1H-NMR (500 MHz, d6-DMSO) δ 11.99 (br s, 1H),
13
2.09 (d, 2H), 0.92 (m, 1H), 0.44 (d, 2H), 0.11 (d, 2H). C-NMR (125 MHz, d6-DMSO) δ 174.2
(C=O), 38.9 (CH2), 7.0 (CH), 4.2 (2 CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3007, 3010, 1704, 1222, 828 cm−1.
Cyclopropylacetyl chloride. Cyclopropylacetic acid (10.0 g, 100 mmol) and thionyl chloride (14.6 mL,
200 mmol) were combined and refluxed overnight at 40 °C under argon. Short-path distillation at
atmospheric pressure afforded two fractions: fraction 1 (bp ~75 °C, unreacted thionyl chloride) and
1
fraction 2 (bp 130–135 °C, cyclopropylacetyl chloride, 10.2 g, 86%). H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ
13
2.77 (d, 2H), 1.13 (m, 1H), 0.65 (d, 2H), 0.24 (d, 2H). C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 173.4 (C=O),
51.9 (CH2), 7.1 (CH), 4.6 (2 CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3086, 3010, 1795, 1024, 925, 830, 707 cm−1.
endo-8-Cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-en-6-one (3). Triethylamine (14.0 mL, 100 mmol), freshly
distilled from CaH2, was dissolved in chloroform (60 mL, purified by washing with conc. H2SO4 and
distilled from CaH2) and then added dropwise to a solution of cyclopropylacetyl chloride (12.0 g,
100 mmol) in 1,3-cyclohexadiene (80 mL, 850 mmol). After stirring at rt for 24 h, the chloroform was
removed via simple distillation. After addition of 150 mL of ether, the suspended solid was removed
by vacuum filtration. The ether layer was washed with water and then brine, dried over MgSO4
(anhydrous), and concentrated under reduced pressure. After removal of hydrocarbon fractions on a
silica gel column with pentane as the eluting solvent, the ketone product was eluted with 95:5
pentane:ether. Removal of solvent by rotary evaporation from five fractions yielded relatively pure
ketone (2.5 g, 15%). 1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.95 (d, 2H), 3.49 (m, 1H), 3.01 (dt, 1H), 2.74 (dt,
1H), 2.04 (m, 2H), 1.99 (m, 1H), 1.52 (m, 1H), 0.77 (m, 1H), 0.61 (m, 1H), 0.42 (m, 1H), 0.29 (m,
13
1H), 0.14 (m, 1H). C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 212.4 (C=O), 129.6 (=CH), 126.3 (=CH), 66.5
(CH), 54.5 (CH), 27.7 (CH), 21.3 (CH2), 18.4 (CH2), 6.5 (CH), 4.5 (CH2), 2.2 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax
3080, 3006, 1767, 1646, 685 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 162 (M+, 1), 134 (5), 119 (5), 107 (8), 105 (10), 91
(32), 82 (27), 80 (100), 79 (61), 77 (25); HRMS (EI) calcd for C11H14O (M+) 162.1045, found
162.1043.
8-Cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene (1). A mixture of hydrazine sulfate (2.1 g, 15.9 mmol) dissolved
in hydrazine hydrate (10 mL) and compound 3 (2.5 g, 15.4 mmol) was refluxed overnight at 65 °C.
The reaction mixture was extracted several times with ether, and the combined organic layers were
washed with distilled water and brine, dried over MgSO4 (anhydrous), and concentrated under reduced
pressure to afford crude hydrazone (1.3 g, 48%). FTIR (neat) νmax 3368, 3202, 3075, 3017, 1682,
1645, 1018, 739 cm−1. To a solution of potassium tert-butoxide (1.08 g, 9.0 mmol), sublimed under
high vacuum at 190 °C and dissolved in 25 mL anhydrous DMSO, was added 8-
cyclopropylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-en-7-one hydrazone (1.3 g, 8.0 mmol) dropwise over 6 h. After stirring
overnight, the reaction mixture was quenched with 5 mL of cold water and extracted four times with
pentane. The combined pentane extracts were washed ten times with water to remove DMSO and dried
over MgSO4 (anhydrous). The pentane was removed via simple distillation to yield crude product
(1.02 g, 85%) in an exo:endo ratio of ca. 9:1. Preparative GC (on a 12' × ¼'' DC710 packed column at

Molecules 2014, 19
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1
130 °C) afforded 1-exo in >99% purity by GC. H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.74 (m, 2H), 2.39 (br
m, 2H), 1.99 (m, 1H), 1.93 (m, 1H), 1.70 (m, 2H), 1.64 (m, 2H), 1.48 (m, 1H), 0.87 (m, 1H), 0.37 (dd,
2H), 0.05 (dd, 2H). 13C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 130.3 (=CH), 127.0 (=CH), 46.2 (CH), 38.4 (CH),
29.2 (CH), 28.2 (CH2), 25.7 (CH2), 22.3 (CH2), 15.5 (CH), 2.9 (CH2), 2.8 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3076,
3015, 1644, 1015, 697 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 148 (M+, 1), 105 (3), 91 (8), 81 (9), 80 (100), 79 (45), 77
(11); HRMS (EI) calcd for C11H16 (M+) 148.1252, found 148.1255.
3.4. Preparation of 2-endo (Scheme 5)
.
Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-en-5-carboxaldehyde (4). The catalyst BF3 OEt2 (2.0 mL, 16 mmol) was added
under inert atmosphere to a solution of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (97%, 7.5 mL, 76 mmol) and acrolein
(95%, 2.7 mL, 38 mmol) dissolved in anhydrous ether (50 mL). After stirring for 4 h, the reaction was
quenched with ice-cold distilled water and then extracted with ether. The combined organic layers
were washed sequentially with water, saturated sodium bicarbonate (aq), water, and brine and then
dried over MgSO4. Concentration via rotary evaporation resulted in crude product (3.7 g, 71% yield),
96% of the endo epimer by GC analysis. 1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 9.44 (d, 1H), 6.32 (t, 1H), 6.10
(t, 1H), 2.95 (br m, 1H), 2.63 (br m, 1H), 2.55 (br m, 1H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.65 (m, 2H), 1.55 (m, 1H),
1.35 (tt, 1H), 1.27 (m, 1H). 13C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 203.6 (O=CH), 136.0 (=CH), 130.6 (=CH),
50.8 (CH), 30.6 (CH), 29.2 (CH), 26.6 (CH2), 25.1 (CH2), 24.7 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3044, 2937,
1721, 701 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 136 (M+, C9H12O, 11), 108 (17), 93 (8), 91 (10), 80 (53), 79 (100).
5-Vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (5). A solution of recrystallized methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide
(5.7 g, 16 mmol) in anhydrous THF (100 mL) was cooled to −78 °C and was treated slowly with 1.6 M
CH3Li in ether (10.0 mL, 16 mmol). The resultant yellow suspension was then allowed to stir at 0 °C
for 1 h. After again cooling the reaction mixture to −78 °C, bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-en-5-carboxaldehyde
(2.0 g, 14.7 mmol) dissolved in anhydrous THF (5 mL) was added dropwise via syringe over 1 h. The
reaction mixture, which was allowed to warm gradually to rt and to stir overnight, was then quenched
with ice-cold water and extracted twice with pentane. The combined organic layers were washed with
water and brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated by short-path simple distillation to yield crude
diolefin product (1.5 g, 75%) as a yellow oil. The endo:exo ratio, as determined by GC analysis, was
1
96:4. H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.28 (t, 1H), 6.14 (t, 1H), 5.55 (pent, 1H), 4.86 (d, 1H), 4.79 (d,
13
1H), 2.46 (m, 2H), 1.75 (m, 1H), 1.55 (m, 1H), 1.46 (m, 1H), 1.24 (m, 3H), 1.06 (m, 1H). C-NMR
(125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 145.4 (=CH), 134.8 (=CH), 132.0 (=CH), 111.6 (=CH2), 42.4 (CH), 35.7 (CH),
33.6 (CH2), 29.8 (CH), 26.1 (CH2), 24.4 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3040, 2934, 1638, 996, 906,
693 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 134 (M+, 8), 92 (8), 91 (15), 80 (100), 79 (76); HRMS (EI) calcd for C10H14
(M+) 134.1096, found 134.1093.
5-Cyclopropylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (2). A solution of 1.0 M diethylzinc in hexanes (10.0 mL, 10.0
mmol) was added under argon to a dry round-bottomed flask at −40 °C. Sequential dropwise addition
of 5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (1.0 g, 7.5 mmol) and diiodomethane (0.5 mL, 7.5 mmol) was
performed. The reaction mixture was then allowed to warm to −5 °C and the temperature was held
between −5 °C and 0 °C for 16 h, during which time additional aliquots of diethylzinc (4.0 mL) and
diiodomethane (0.2 mL) were added to facilitate selective cyclopropanation of 5-vinylbicyclo-

Molecules 2014, 19
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[2.2.2]0ct-2-ene at the exocyclic vinyl group. After 16 h, the reaction vessel was sealed with parafilm
and stored overnight in a freezer at 0 °C. GC analysis the following day showed a 1.0:1.7 ratio of
5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene to 2, corresponding to a 63% conversion. The reaction was quenched
with ice-cold water and extracted twice with pentane. The combined organic layers were washed with
water and brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated by short-path simple distillation. The dominant
epimer 2-endo was obtained in >98% purity by prep GC (on a 12' × ¼'' DC710 packed column at 128 °C).
1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.26 (dt, 1H), 6.20 (t, 1H), 2.49 (br m, 1H), 2.45 (br m, 1H), 1.72 (dq,
1H), 1.37 (m, 2H), 1.20 (m, 2H), 1.07 (m, 1H), 0.82 (m, 1H), 0.42 (m, 1H), 0.29 (m, 2H), 0.01 (m,
13
2H). C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 134.5 (=CH), 132.8 (=CH), 44.1 (CH), 35.3 (CH), 34.1 (CH2),
30.2 (CH), 26.4 (CH2), 24.6 (CH2), 18.1 (CH), 3.8 (CH2), 3.3 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3075, 3043,
3000,1640, 703 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 148 (M+, 1), 92 (4), 91 (7), 80 (100), 79 (35); HRMS (EI) calcd
for C11H16 (M+) 148.1252, found 148.1253.
A selective cyclopropanation of 5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene to 2 at 20 °C resulted in 69%
conversion. Selectivity for the desired product 2 was achieved regardless of temperature. The ratio of 2
to dicyclopropanated side product was 4.2:1 for the reaction at 20 °C compared to 5.0:1 for the
reaction at 0 °C.
The thermal stability of 2-endo was assessed by determining the 2-endo:dodecane (ISTD) ratio over
a period of 30 h at 275 °C; sampling at 10 h increments afforded a fundamentally invariant ratio of
5.2 ± 0.2.
A preparative 120-h thermal reaction of 1-exo at 275 °C afforded a ca. 2:1 mixture of 2-endo:2-exo.
The LRMS of 2-exo was virtually indistinguishable from that of 2-endo. The 13C-NMR signals due to
2-exo were identified from the NMR spectrum of this epimeric mixture: δ 136.2 (=CH), 133.7 (=CH),
42.5 (CH), 34.8 (CH), 32.6 (CH2), 30.2 (CH), 26.3 (CH2), 20.1 (CH2), 15.6 (CH), 4.0 (CH2).
3.5. Preparation of CPC-1 (Scheme 6)
Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-one (6). Compound 6, a low melting solid prone to sublimation, was prepared
1
as previously reported [4]. H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.47 (t, 1H), 6.11 (t, 1H), 3.12 (br m, 1H),
2.97 (br m, 1H), 2.04 (s, 2H), 1.84 (m, 1H), 1.69 (m, 1H), 1.57 (m, 1H), 1.50 (m, 1H). 13C-NMR (125
MHz, CDCl3) δ 213.1 (C=O), 137.1 (=CH), 128.5 (=CH), 48.6 (CH), 40.5 (CH2), 32.4 (CH), 24.3
(CH2), 22.5 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3051, 2945, 1717, 700 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 122 (M+, 22), 80
(100), 79 (81); HRMS (EI) calcd for C8H10O (M+) 122.0732, found 122.0729.
Bicyclo[3.2.2]non-6-en-2-one (7). Subjecting 1.12 g (9.18 mmol) of 6 to Tiffaneau-Demjanov ring
expansion [14] afforded 0.36 g (29% yield) of 7 (contaminated with 7% bicyclo[3.2.2]non-6-en-3-one)
after purification by column chromatography. 1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.35 (t, 1H), 6.08 (t, 1H),
3.05 (br t, 1H), 2.69 (br m, 1H), 2.56 (t, 2H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.89 (m, 1H), 1.82 (m, 4H). 13C-NMR (125
MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9 (C=O), 136.7 (=CH), 127.9 (=CH), 49.3 (CH), 39.4 (CH2), 31.2 (CH), 30.7
(CH2), 24.9 (CH2), 24.1 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3039, 2940, 1693, 705 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 136 (M+,
20), 118 (50), 117 (38), 92 (85), 80 (57), 79 (100).
Bicyclo[5.2.2]undec-8-en-4-one (8). A sample of 0.34 g (2.5 mmol) 7 was allowed to react gradually
with 4.0 mL (4.0 mmol) of 1.0 M vinylmagnesium bromide in THF under argon at −65 °C. Workup by

Molecules 2014, 19
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treatment with 1 M NH4Cl (aq) followed by successive extraction with ether and subsequent drying
over MgSO4 afforded 0.32 g (2.0 mmol, 78%) of crude vinyl alcohol as a pair of diastereomers. FTIR
(neat) νmax 3424, 3032, 2975, 1631, 998, 916, 720 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 164 (M+, 2), 146 (14), 131
(17), 104 (64), 92 (81), 91 (71), 83 (100), 79 (100). The vinyl alcohols were treated with 0.29 g
(2.1 mmol) of KH (30 wt% in mineral oil) and 18-crown-6 (1.09 g, 4.1 mmol) dissolved in 20 mL
anhydrous dioxane under reflux at 120 °C for 1.5 h. The major product in the crude mixture (0.16 g,
47%) corresponded to 8, as confirmed by 13C-NMR spectral comparison with reported literature
13
values [16]. C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 219.0 (C=O), 133.1 (=CH), 41.0 (CH2), 31.7 (CH2), 30.5
(CH), 25.4 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3019, 2918, 1697, 702 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 164 (M+, 23), 136
(75), 118 (82), 117 (50), 92 (100), 91 (69), 79 (100).
Bicyclo[5.2.2]undeca-3,8-diene (CPC-1). To a solution of 150 mg (0.81 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonyl
hydrazide in 1 mL of methanol was added crude 8 (150 mg, 0.92 mmol). The resultant crystals were
filtered and washed with cold 1:1 pentane-ether (1 mL). The tosylhydrazone derivative of 8 (0.02 g,
0.09 mmol) was then suspended in TMEDA (anhydrous, 0.2 mL). After cooling the mixture in a dry
ice/acetone bath, 1.6 M CH3Li in diethyl ether (4.4 equiv., 0.25 mL, 0.4 mmol) was added dropwise
via syringe. The resultant solution turned dark orange in color. After stirring overnight, the reaction
was quenched with 1:1 pentane-water, washed successively with 2 M HCl (aq) and 2M NaOH (aq),
and then dried over MgSO4. Removal of solvent by short-path distillation gave a trace amount of
liquid. Major component LRMS (EI) m/z 148 (M+, 11), 133 (13), 120 (29), 106 (29), 93 (30), 92 (36),
91 (50), 79 (100). This mass spectrum is virtually identical to that of the thermal product eluting at
12.3 min (see SI).
3.6. Preparation of Bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-2,9-diene (Scheme 7)
Bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-9-en-2-one (9). A sample of 1.63 g (12.2 mmol) of AlCl3 was weighed into a
thick-walled flask under argon in a glovebag. A solution of 2-cycloheptenone (1.5 mL, 0.988 g/mL,
13.6 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (7.6 mL) was transferred to the flask via syringe. After complexation
between the ketone and Lewis acid had proceeded for 40 min at rt, a solution of 1,3-butadiene in
toluene (27.4 mL, 20 wt%, 0.806 g/mL, 81.7 mmol) was added via syringe through a septum, which
was then replaced with Teflon screw cap. After stirring the reaction at rt for 22 h, the reaction mixture
was extracted with ether, and the organic layer was washed twice with water and once with brine.
Elution of the ketone from a silica column with 98:2 pentane:ether afforded 1.04 g (6.4 mmol, 47%) of
pure ketone 9. 1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.68 (m, 1H), 5.62 (m, 1H), 2.76 (dt, 1H), 2.65 (m, 1H),
13
2.45 (dd, 1H), 2.29 (br m, 3H), 2.17 (m, 1H), 1.89 (m, 1H), 1.80 (m, 2H), 1.66 (m, 4H). C-NMR
(125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 215.2 (C=O), 125.4 (=CH), 125.3 (=CH), 49.7 (CH), 43.7 (CH2), 34.0 (CH), 33.3
(CH2), 31.7 (CH2), 27.5 (CH2), 26.2 (CH2), 24.1 (CH2). FTIR (neat) νmax 3023, 2921, 1691, 1654,
653 cm−1. LRMS (EI) m/z 164 (M+, 45), 146 (29), 135 (27), 117 (46), 104 (55), 91 (49), 79 (100), 77 (47).
Bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-2,9-diene (10). Ketone 9 (0.52 g, 3.2 mmol) was added to a solution of
p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (0.45 g, 2.4 mmol) in methanol (4 mL). After sitting overnight, a crop of
crystals (0.75 g, 68%) was obtained. The tosylhydrazone of ketone 9 was dried in a vacuum oven: mp
137–139 °C. Dropwise addition of a solution of 1.6 M CH3Li in pentane (4.0 mL, 6.4 mmol) at −55 °C

Molecules 2014, 19
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over 15 min to a suspension of the tosylhydrazone (0.60 g, 1.7 mmol) suspended in 4 mL anhydrous
TMEDA produced a dark red solution. After stirring overnight at rt, the reaction was quenched with
cold water and extracted with pentane. Removal of the solvent by short-path distillation yielded product 10
(0.13 g, 0.88 mmol, 52%), which was purified via prep GC (on a 12' × ¼'' DC710 packed column at
130 °C) for purposes of spectral analysis. 1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.79 (m, 1H), 5.66 (m, 2H),
5.44 (dd, 1H), 2.68 (br s, 1H), 2.24 (br d, 1H), 2.11 (m, 3H), 1.99 (br d, 1H), 1.88 (m, 2H), 1.85 (m,
13
1H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.54 (m, 1H), 1.48 (m, 1H). C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 135.8 (=CH), 132.0
(=CH), 127.2 (=CH), 125.5 (=CH), 37.5 (CH), 35.3 (CH2), 34.6 (CH), 32.5 (CH2), 29.1 (CH2), 28.9
(CH2), 23.4 (CH2). LRMS (EI) m/z 148 (M+, 41), 133 (13), 119 (14), 105(21), 94 (84), 92 (31), 91
(48), 79 (100), 77 (25).
4. Conclusions
The low stereoselectivity (si/sr = 1.8) observed for 1-exo is consistent with a longer lifetime for
diradical transition structure A (Scheme 3) with more opportunities for rotation about the C7-C8 bond.
The high reactivity observed for 1-exo can be accounted for by cyclopropyl conjugative stabilization
of transition structure A (Scheme 2). As confirmation of the proposed electronic stabilization, a
Hammett plot shows that the logarithm of the respective rate constants for a series of 8-substituted
+
bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes correlates with the substituent constant σp , which possesses a large resonance
contribution. Finally, formation of only one CPC product (CPC-1) suggests a short lifetime for
diradical transition structure B (Scheme 3) that has insufficient time to explore all of conformational
space and thus is unable to access all ring closure exit channels. CPC-1 is realized before
intramolecular reorganization of the side chain results in other potential CPC products.
Supplementary Materials
The NMR spectra of compounds 1-exo, 2-endo, 8, and 10 and relevant kinetic data for thermal
reactions of 1-exo can be accessed at: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/2/1527/s1.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the Donors of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund
and the Franklin & Marshall College Hackman Program for support of this research at Franklin &
Marshall College.
Author Contributions
A. J. Nocket carried out much of the synthetic work and all of the thermal study at Franklin &
Marshall College under the supervision of P. A. Leber, the lead author. W. Hancock-Cerutti, C. Y.
Bemis, W. K. Khine, and J. A. Mohrbacher III performed supplemental syntheses at Franklin &
Marshall College. J. E. Baldwin collaborated on the design of the synthesis of CPC-1, which was
prepared at Franklin & Marshall College.

Molecules 2014, 19
1542
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of compounds 1-exo, 2-endo, and 10 are available from the authors.
These compounds are colorless liquids obtained in 98%–99% purity after purification via prep GC.
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).