The bicyclic compound norbornadiene was the subject of an unsuccessful search by Martin-Drumel and co-workers in 2023. Rotational constants and other molecular properties were determined for norbornadiene and two of its cyano derivatives using a combination of quantum chemistry and laboratory measurement. The compound and its derivatives were not detected in the QUIJOTE line survey.

Norbornadiene is used as a ligand in organometallic chemistry. One of the interesting traits of norbornadiene is that it can be converted to a higher energy isomer called quadricyclane with UV light. Heat is released when quadricyclane reverts to norbornadiene, which has been explored as a solar energy collection strategy.