Ethyne, acidity polymerization

COT is prepared by the polymerization of ethyne at moderate temperature and pressure in the presence of nickel salts. The molecule is non-planar and behaves as a typical cyclic olefin, having no aromatic properties. It may be catalytically hydrogenated to cyclo-octene, but with Zn and dil. sulphuric acid gives 1,3,6-cyclooclairiene. It reacts with maleic anhydride to give an adduct, m.p. 166 C, derived from the isomeric structure bicyclo-4,2,0-octa-2,4,7-triene(I) ... 

---