A matrix isolation, laser flash photolysis, and computational study of adamantene

Photolysis (350 nm) of 3-noradamantyldiazirine (5) in argon at 14 K produce s adamantene (1) (lambda (max) = 320 nm; LR, nu, = 1478 cm(-1)) and protoad amant-3-ene (8) (lambda (max) = 220 nm); IR, nu = 1580 cm(-1)). Strained al kenes 1 and 8 can be interconverted photochemically in argon at 14 K. Laser flash photolysis (351 nm) of 5 in benzene solution produces 1. The decay o f 1 is monitored at 325 nm. Absolute rate constants of reaction of 1 with m ethanol, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, tris(trimethylsilyl)silane, acetic acid, and o xygen are reported.