Cyclopentadiene synthesis from dicyclopentadiene

In each problem, the synthesis must begin with the preparation of cyclopentadiene from dicyclopentadiene. 

Cyclopentadiene, b.p. 40°, is obtained by heating commercial 85% dicyclopentadiene (e.g., from Matheson, Coleman and Bell Company, Norwood, Ohio) under a short column (M in. diameter X 8-12 in. length) filled with glass helices. The distilled cyclopentadiene is collected in a receiver which is maintained at Dry Ice temperature until the cyclopentadiene is used. Methylcyclopentadiene and other substituted cyclopentadienes such as indene may also be employed for the synthesis of the correspondingly substituted ferrocenes. In these cases, the reaction of the hydrocarbon with sodium is much slower than with cyclopentadiene, and refluxing for several hours is required to complete the reaction. 

---