Oxidation of polysubstituted phenols with phenyliodonium diacetate gives cyclohexa-2, 5- dienones, which on reaction with dimethyl 1, 3-acetonedicarboxylate afford double-Michael- addition derivatives, whose hydrolysis and decarboxylation provides polysubstituted bicyclo [3.3. 1] nonane-3, 7-diones. For steric and/or electronic reasons, the Michael reaction only works with 3, 5-unsubstituted or 3-substituted cyclohexa-2, 5-dienones, if the substituent is ...