Skeletal and polycyclic sterically hindered alkenes

Data on the chemistry of strained tetrasubstituted alkenes with skeletal and polycyclic fragments are surveyed. A systematic account is given of information concerning the methods of their synthesis and data presented on the deformation of their molecular geometry relative to the usual geometry. The characterictic features of the reactivity of skeletal compounds of this type are considered – the formation of unusual adducts and substitution products in reactions with electrophiles. The oxidation reactions of the alkenes are discussed and their value as starting materials for the synthesis of stable dioxetanes, which have found practical application as chemiluminescent labels and probes in immunology and molecular biology, is demonstrated. The bibliography includes 152 references.