The reactive intermediate that is produced both (i) via reaction of ne
)-pentacydo[5.4.0.0(2,6).0(3,10).0(5,9)]undecane (6) with n-BuLi-TfIF
and (ii) via the corresponding reaction of pentacyclo [5.4.0.0(2,6).0(
3,10).0(5,9)] undecan-8-one (ii) with diethyl diazomethylphosphonate (
DAMP) has been shown to be vinylidenecarbene 7a rather than the corres
ponding cycloalkyne, 7b.