Chemistry Letters, Vol.36, No.1, 18-19, 2007
Synthesis of an enantiopure syn-benzocyclotrimer through regio-selective cyclotrimerization of a halonorbornene derivative under palladium nanocluster conditions
An enantiopure syn-benzocyclotrimer 1 was selectively synthesized from an enantiopure halonorbornene 2 through regioselective cyclotrimerization catalyzed by palladium nanoclusters. The yield of 1 was dependent on the stability of the palladium clusters, which was ascertained from the appearance and TEM images of the reaction mixtures. The thus-prepared enantiopure benzocyclotrimer will serve as a key intermediate for the synthesis of C-3v symmetric chiral buckybowls.