A new method for the synthesis of diamantane by hydroisomerization of binor-S on treatment with sulfuric acid

Abstract

A new method was developed for the direct synthesis of the second representative of the homologous series of diamond-like hydrocarbons, diamantane, in 65% yield by hydroisomerization of the norbornadiene dimer, endo-endo-heptacyclo[8.4.0.02,12.03,8.04,6.05,9.011,13]tetradecane (binor-S) on treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid (98%). In the presence of H2SO4 of lower concentration (75–80%), the reaction stops after the hydrogenation step giving endo-endo-pentacyclo[7.3.1.12,5.18,10.03,7]tetradecane in 68% yield with excellent selectivity (100%).

Keywords

• binor-s
• diamantane
• hydroisomerization
• sulfuric acid
• tetrahydrobinor-s