DEGENERATE COPE REARRANGEMENT OF TETRACYCLO[7.3.1.0(2,8).0(4,12)]TRIDECA-5,10-DIENE

etracyclo[7.3.1.0(2,8).O-4,O-12]trideca-5,10-diene (3) is synthesized and partially resolved via reversible ligand exchange in its (4) eta-d iene-tfacac-rhodium(I) complexes 10 and II with the C-2-chiral bidenta te bis-[4(R)-methyl- 5(R)-phenyloxazolinyI]methanide anion. The Cope r earrangment of (+) 3, converting it 10(8) its mirror image, is measure d between 39 - 57 degrees\C. The kinetic parameters show that the rare of this re arrangement is 10(8) times faster than that of the parent hexa-1,5-diene. The strain and rigidity of the cage compound 3 provide an explanation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.