Reactions over metal catalysts. III. Hydrogenolysis of some 3-substituted nortricyclenes

Abstract

Hydrogenolysis of 3-methylnortricyclene over platinum in acetic acid solution leads to the formation of almost equal amounts of 7-methylnorbornane and exo-2-methylnorbornane with much smaller amounts of the endo-2-methyl compound. In contrast, reactions over supported metal catalysts in the vapour phase lead to a predominance of the 2-methyl compounds. Similar trends have been observed in the hydrogenolyses of 3-cyclohexyl- and 3-acetoxy-nortricyclenes.