Among the most convenient routes to small [nlparacyclophanes is the method of van Straten, de Wolf, and Bickelhaupt which involves the pyrolysis of spirotrienes.'For example, flow pyrolysis of 3-methylenespiro [5.6]-dodeca-1, 4-diene (1) at 460-500" C provides [7] paracyclophane (3) in 10-15% yield.'The proposed mecha-
[Kelly, David P.; Giansiracusa, Joseph J.; Leslie, D. Ralph; McKern, Ian D.; Sinclair, Georgia C. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1988 , vol. 53, # 11 p. 2497 - 2504]