A straightforward gram-scale synthesis of 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(methylidene)cyclooctane (TMCO) from commercial adamantane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid has been developed. TMCO exhibits high reactivity toward a number of carbenes and epoxidizing reagents, undergoing multiple cyclopropanations, dihalocyclopropanations, or epoxidations of four double bonds to yield polyspirocyclic products. Stereochemical features of polyspirocyclopropanated compounds have been thoroughly examined in experimental (NMR) and theoretical (DFT) studies. Comprehensive stereochemical assignment of TMCO adducts with dihalocarbenes and spiroepoxy products was achieved. The conditions of the formation of 1-methyl-3,7-bis(methylidene)bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane from the adamantane derivative were optimized, and diadducts of this diene with dihalocarbenes were isolated and characterized.

Novel three-component heterocyclization involving gem-bromofluorocyclopropanes, nitrosyl tetrafluoroborate, and a molecule of the solvent (nitrile) yielding previously unknown fluorinated pyrimidine N-oxides is described. A two-step synthetic approach to 4-fluoropyrimidine N-oxides from alkenes under mild conditions is developed using this reaction. Mechanistic aspects of the heterocyclization are discussed.