Dehalogenation of isodrin and aldrin with alkoxide bases

Abstract

Earlier reports suggest that isodrin and aldrin and their derivatives are unreactive towards, e.g., sodium methoxide. The present work describes the largely stereospecific dechlorination of isodrin and aldrin and related fused polychloro-norbornenes with sodium methoxide in methanol–dimethyl sulphoxide. The stereochemistry of the products is established and a unique long-range ¹H n.m.r. coupling over six bonds reported in a related system.