1,6-methano[10]annulene-stabilized radicals.
The rate of the methylenecyclopropane rearrangement is remarkably enhanced by the 1,6-methano[10]annulene group, which greatly stabilizes the biradical intermediate. The diastereomeric products argue against a concerted rearrangement mechanism and support a stabilized biradical intermediate that lives long enough to undergo rotation before ring closure. [structure: see text]