General approach for the synthesis of polyquinenes via the Weiss reaction. 14. Synthesis of ellacene (1,10-decanotriquinacene) and studies of the proposed dimerization to a substituted dodecahedrane

Ellacene 4, a tetracyclic 1,10-centrosubstituted triquinacene, has been synthesized via the Weiss reaction. Synthesis of 4 from condensation of cyclodedecane-1,2-dione (5) with di-tert-butyl 3-ketoglutarate (6) under aqueous alkaline conditions