The cycloaddition reactions of cis-3,8-dicarbomethoxy-3,8-dihydroheptalene cis-2 and trans-3,8-dicarbomethoxy-3,8-dihydroheptalene trans-2 with various dienophiles such as dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), p-benzoquinone, maleic anhydride, tetracyanoethylene, naphtoquinone gave monoaddition products 15-23. Further addition of benzyne and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to 18 resulted in the formation of the compounds syn-25 and syn-26 having pyramidalized double bonds. The addition of benzyne to 21 and the addition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to 21, 22 and 23 gave the anti configuration products anti-26, 27 and 28, respectively. X-ray structures of syn-25, syn-26 and anti-26 show the pyramidalized angles to be 16.5o, 19.9o and 8.0o, respectively.

The cycloaddition reactions of cis-3,8-dicarbomethoxy-3,8-dihydroheptalene cis-2 and trans-3,8-dicarbomethoxy-3,8-dihydroheptalene trans-2 with various dienophiles such as dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), p-benzoquinone, maleic anhydride, tetracyanoethylene, naphtoquinone gave monoaddition products 15-23. Further addition of benzyne and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to 18 resulted in the formation of the compounds syn-25 and syn-26 having pyramidalized double bonds. The addition of benzyne to 21 and the addition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to 21, 22 and 23 gave the anti configuration products anti-26, 27 and 28, respectively. X-ray structures of syn-25, syn-26 and anti-26 show the pyramidalized angles to be 16.5o, 19.9o and 8.0o, respectively.