Improved synthesis of a functionalized 2,8-ethanonoradamantane derivative

An improved preparation of a functionalized 2,8-ethanonoradamantane derivative, which avoids two protection/deprotection steps while deprotection of a benzyloxymethyl protecting group takes place during an acid-catalyzed dehydration, is described. Altogether the synthesis has been reduced in five steps (from 16 to 11 steps) with an increase in the global yield from 5.8 to 7.2%.