Unusual formation of a methano-bridged didehydro[20]annulenedione. A highly diatropic, dicationic 18π-electron species in D2SO4

An intramolecular coupling of 1,6-bis(5-oxohepta-1,3-dien-6-ynyl)cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene under Glaser conditions affords 12,15-dichloro-13,14-didehydro-1,6-methano[20]annulene-11,16-dione, which exhibits strong diatropicity in D2SO4, suggesting the formation of the highly delocalized dicationic species.