Several years ago evidence was provided for the existence of 1, 7-dehydroquadricyclane (1) as a reactive intermediate.'-3 1 was generated by treatment of 3f with lithium 2, 2, 6, 6- tetramethylpiperidide in the presence of anthracene, 2, 5-dimethylfuran, or trimethylisoindole and trapped as a Diels-Alder adduct. Under these reaction conditions, no indications were obtained for the formation of 1, 5-dehydroquadricyclane (2), whereas the reaction of 3f ...