Functionalization of saturated hydrocarbons. High temperature bromination of octahydropentalene. Part 19

The synthesis and thermal bromination of octahydropentalene was studied. The reaction afforded 1a,3a,4b,6b-tetrabromo-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropentalene () with remarkable regio- and stereospecificity. The structure of the product was determined by 1H and 13C NMR data and single X-ray structural analysis. The treatment of octahydropentalene with tenfold bromine gave the octabromopentalene derivative. The formation mechanism of the products is discussed.