title: Precursors to dodecahedrane.
abstract: The title compounds, (2R,2"S,3b'S,4a'R,7b'S,8a'R)-perhydrodispiro[furan-2,3'-dicyclopenta[a,e]pentalene-7',2"-furan]-5,5"-dione, C(20)H(26)O(4), and (3aR,3bR,4aR,4bS,5aS,8aR,8bR,9aR,9bS,10aS)-perhydrodipentaleno[2,1-a:2',1'-e]pentalene-1,6-dione, C(20)H(26)O(2), are intermediates identified during the synthesis of dodecahedrane. Crystallographic studies have established the ring-junction stereochemistry for these important intermediates. All the ring junctions are cis-fused, and the molecular packing is stabilized by van der Waals interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India.
authors.forename: Lakshminarasimhan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Damodharan
authors.forename: Vasantha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pattabhi
authors.forename: Rallapalli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
authors.forename: Sambasivarao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotha