Intramolecular ketene-allene cycloadditions.

[reaction: see text]This report describes intramolecular thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions between ketenes and allenes. The formation of ketenes and the subsequent cycloadditions occurred under a variety of conditions, affording 7-methylidinebicyclo[3.2.0]heptanones and 7-methylidinebicyclo[3.1.1]heptanones in 45-78% yields. The regioselectivity of the cycloaddition varied with the substitution of the allene, and the yield of cyclized products varied with reaction conditions.