Studies on the synthesis of norbornadiene

The dimers and trimers of norbornadiene have a unique polycyclic strained structure and are of great practical value. A systematic study of the synthesis of norbornadiene from dicyclopentadiene and acetylene under pressure has been carried out. The effects of various operating parameters on product distribution have been determined. The optimum conditions for the synthesis are: (i) temperature, 290°C; (ii) residence period, 16 min; (iii) mole ratio of C2H2:N2: dicyclopentadiene, 1:1:0.4; and (iv) initial pressure at ambient temperature, 8.894 × 105 nm−2. Under these conditions the conversion of norbornadiene is 41.74% on the basis of dicyclopentadiene consumed. The loss of dicyclopentadiene due to polymerisation has been estimated from its balance. A kinetic study of the synthesis from cyclopentadiene has also been carried out.