Construction of a Hemifullerene Skeleton: A Regioselective Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization

A two‐step synthesis of a strained π bowl, with hemifullerene skeleton from sumanene, was achieved in a high yield. The first step is a base‐promoted condensation reaction with a benzophenone compound, bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)methanone. The second step is the regioselective intramolecular oxidative cyclization, which is a key reaction for the hemifullerene skeleton synthesis. This regioselective cyclization is likely to be under thermodynamic control. This strategy will allow facile synthesis of various highly strained π bowls.