REARRANGEMENT OF 4-METHYLDICYCLOPENTADIENE TO 2-METHYLDICYCLOPENTADIENE

It was observed that 4-methyl-endo-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene, when heated at100°C, isomerizes to a thermodynamically more stable isomer, 2-methyl-endo-3a,4,7,7atetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene, through [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. The kinetics of thisthermal rearrangement was studied in the liquid phase in the temperature range of 80 – 140°Cand kinetic parameters were evaluated.