A short synthesis of 10-hydroxy 7-spirocyclopropanated camphor.

[Chemical reaction: see text] A short alternative synthesis of the title 10-hydroxy 7-spirocyclopropanated camphor (4) en route to 10-hydroxycamphor (5) was achieved from cyclopentadiene-derived 4-benzyloxymethylspiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene (6a) by a facile regioselective Diels-Alder cycloaddition with 2-chloroacrylonitrile in an overall yield of 20%.