Photochemical Carboxylation of Cubanes

Abstract

In one step and in 60% yield, the cubane tetracarboxylic acid derivative of 1 could be prepared by irradiation of a mixture of oxalyl chloride and cubane monocarboxylic acid. In this photochemical chlorocarbonylation of cubanes, substitution in the β and γ positions is preferred. A wide range of substituted cubanes not accessible by ortho-metalation may be synthesized in this way.