Formation of Seven-Membered Carbocycles via 7-<i>endo</i> Mode Cyclization of Lithioheptatrienes

The highly selective synthesis of triene derivatives was achieved by a zirconocene-mediated three-component coupling reaction, and the trienes were efficiently subjected to 7-endo mode cyclization. The reaction of unsymmetrical zirconacyclopentadienes prepared from two different alkynes with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) followed by treatment with allyl halides in the presence of CuCl afforded the corresponding heptatrienes in good yields. When the trienes reacted with an organolithium reagent, 7-endo mode cyclization occurred smoothly to give the corresponding cycloheptadiene.