Selenium halide-induced bridge formation in [2.2]paracyclophanes

An addition/elimination sequence of selenium halides to pseudo-geminally bis(acetylene) substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes leads to new bridges with an endo-exo-diene substructure. The reactions have been found to be sensitive to the substitution of the ethynyl group. The formation of dienes with a zig-zag configuration is related to that observed for non-conjugated cyclic diynes of medium ring size.