On the Stereochemistry of Bicyclo[n.2.0]Alkanediols

Abstract

We recently reported a facile synthesis for bicyclo-[n.2.0]alkanediols of the general structure 1. ¹ The recent demonstration² that cis-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-1,7-diol(3) can be converted to the novel, highly-strained trans-bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane system increases the interest in this class of compounds. Comparison of our diols with materials used by Paukstelis and Kao in the rearrangement studies² and further work in our laboratory has shown that the diols reported in our initial communication are trans-diols and should be assigned structures 4 and 5.