Diarylnorbornadiene compounds are promising candidates for solar to thermal energy conversion applications since they can undergo a photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition to form kinetically stable, highly strained, quadricyclane systems. Unfortunately, the traditional route to these materials requires several complicated synthetic steps. We present here a two-step synthesis of these materials based upon a tandem alkene insertion-Suzuki coupling reaction developed in our laboratory. We also present initial photochemical studies on the effect of substituents on the stability of the corresponding quadricyclanes.