A general methodology for the synthesis of linearly fused polyquinanes

A methodology involving a combination of spiro-annulation by the action of 1,4-dibromomagnesiobutane on succinic acid derivatives followed by cyclization of the spirolactone using P2O5-CH3SO3H reagent has been developed for the synthesis of polyquinanes. By using bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane carboxylic acids as the precursors for the spirolactones, a triquinane [8] and a pentaquinane, [19], have been synthesized. © 1992.