Abstract
A rational synthesis of Spiro bicyclo (5,4) dec-2-ene-3-methyl-1,6-dione (1) and Spiro bicyclo (5,5) undec-2-ene-3-methyl-1,7-dione (2) from 2-acetyl cycloalkanone is described. Compounds (1) and (2) have very high potentials as important precursors to many naturally occurring bridged tricyclic compounds. A single crystal X-ray crystallographic study of compound (2) was carried out to establish the structure as chemical and spectral methods proved rather inadequate.