The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 13, 2008)Vita.Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.An ester derivative of cyclopentadienone, a very reactive species, was generated from methyl-2-bromo-3-oxocyclopent-1-enecarboxylate (96) which dimerized instantaneously and decarbonylated to generate an indanone (97). Diels-Alder reactions were performed by trapping this fleeting cyclopentadienone derivative with electron rich dienes to generate [4+2] Diels-Alder adducts. The cycloadducts were diastereo- and regioselective. The yields of these reactions were moderate to high. A wide range of dienes were used to show the versatility and scope of these reactions. Using the developed methodology, at attempt was taken to synthesize steroidal drug desogestrel (218).Includes bibliographical reference
