Starting from easily available cyclic alkenes, enynes, and dienophiles, a tandem intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction and Diels-Alder reaction yields polycyclic compounds in high yields.

[reaction: see text] A very efficient method for the synthesis of benz[f]indenone derivatives was developed. This method allows the introduction of a variety of substituents to a molecule. The first zirconocene compound of benz[f]indene was synthesized.

A high-yield synthesis of steroid-type molecules under mild reaction conditions is achieved in two steps involving nucleophilic addition of alkynyl cerium reagent to an easily enolizable carbonyl compound (beta-tetralone) followed by an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction.

Catalytic one-pot synthesis of fenestrane derivatives from dienediynes was developed: fenestranes were synthesized in high yields by a dicobalt octacarbonyl-catalyzed tandem cycloaddition of dienediynes.

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