1 2 loss of lithium chloride under the reaction conditions (large excess of organolithium) then produced bicyclo [2.2. I] hept-2-yne (3) as a highly reactive intermediate which immediately added the excess n-butyllithium. As part of a program designed to explore the chemistry of highly strained acetylenes, we desired to generate 3 in the absence of excess organolithiums. We now report on the synthesis and reactions of 2, including its ...