trans-2,2'-Bi(1-phenyladamantylidene): the most twisted biadamantylidene

The Grignard coupling of 2,2-dibromo-1-phenyladamantane gave trans-2,2'-bi(1-phenyladamantylidene) (1-Ph). Single-crystal X-ray analysis indicated that 1-Ph has a 23.2 degrees twisted double bond, which is much more distorted than that of parent 2,2'-biadamantylidene (1-H) and that of the ethyl-substituted derivative (1-Et). A cyclic voltammogram showed a reversible electron oxidation wave at 0.87 V vs Fc/Fc(+), which is 0.19 V lower than 1-H, indicating a significant increase in the HOMO energy level due to the distortion. The reaction of 1-Ph with 0.9 equiv of bromine gave an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation product, while bromination of 1-H and 1-Me has been reported to give a bridged bromonium ion and a rearranged product, 2-(1-methyl-2-adamantylidene)-4-bromotricyclo[5,3,1,0(3.9)]undec-4-ene, respectively.