Reaction of 2, 3-dibromobicyclo [2.2. 2] oct-2-ene (10) with n-butyllithium in THF at-78" C affords a series of oligomeric dibromides 11 (n= 2-5), which are composed of linearly bonded bicyclo [2.2. 2] oct-2-ene units. A trapping experiment indicated that the reaction proceeds via formation of a highly strained acetylene, bicyclo [2.2. 2loctyne (18), as a reactive intermediate. Upon treatment with sodium naphthalenide, the trimer 11 (n= 3) ...