The extrusion of oxygen atom from the 7-oxabicyclo (2, 2, 1)- hepta-2, 5-diene 1 to the substituted benzenes 2 is an interesting and important reaction. In the course of our continuing studies on the preparation of the substituted benzenoid compounds employing the deoxygenation reaction as the key step, we found that the zinc-copper reagent prepared according to the LeGoff procedure (increasing the amount of copper acetate to 3-4 fold) was also effective for such purpose. Thus, the reaction between zinc-copper reagent and the oxygen-bridged compounds 3a-c, 4 and 5 in refluxing THF furnished the compounds 6a-c, 7 and 8, respectively, the reaction conditions are shown in Table 1 in the Chinese Text. Their yields and physical constants are shown in Table 2.

Key words: REACTION MECHANISM, OXEPANE P, DIENE P, DEOXIDIZATION, ZINC-COPPER REAGENT