Protonation and rearrangement of the tricyclo[4.2.2.22,5]dodeca-3,7,9,11-tetraene scaffold

The biplanemers 2a,b contain enol ether substructures, which permit facile protonations of the π electron system. The subsequent ether cleavage is characterized by rearrangements of the polycyclic scaffold of the carbenium ions or the electroneutral primary products. Apart from the expected products 3a and 5a, a series of unexpected ketones and diketones (4a′, 9b, 10b, 11b, and 12b) were obtained.