Benzocyclobutene, 3-methyl synthesis

A similar synthesis starts from commercially available 1,5-hexadiyne and 2-methyl-cyclopent-2-enone. The benzocyclobutene is obtained from a bis-acetylene in a cobalt-catalyzed reaction. It rearranges regio- and stereoselectively to a 3-deoxy steroid derivative. The overall yield from the cyclopentenone was 40% (R.L. Funk, 1977). 

For the synthesis of estradiol methyl ether 4-319, the cydobutene derivative 4-317 was heated to give the orthoquinonedimethane 4-318 which cydized in an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction [109]. The thermally permitted, conrotatory elec-trocyclic ring-opening of benzocyclobutenes [110] with subsequent intramolecular cycloaddition also allowed the formation of numerous complex frameworks (Scheme 4.70). 

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