Carbonyl groups, reactivity in thiophenes

The carbonyl group reactivities in thiophenes and benzenes are very similar, as shown by the similar rates of alkaline hydrolysis of esters and by the great similarity of the thiophenealdehydes to benzaldehyde in numerous carbonyl group reactions. This has been ascribed to the counteracting —I- -M effects of the thienyl group in this kind of reactions. ... 

The maleimide group can undergo a variety of chemical reactions. The reactivity of the double bond is a consequence of the electron withdrawing nature of the two adjacent carbonyl groups which create a very electron-deficient double bond, and therefore is susceptible to homo- and copolymerizations. Such polymerizations may be induced by free radicals or anions. Nucleophiles such as primary and secondary amines, phenates, thiophenates, carboxylates, etc. may react via the classical Michael addition mechanism. The maleimide group furthermore is a very reactive dienophile and can therefore be employed in a variety of Diels Alder reactions. Bisdienes such as divinylbenzene, bis(vinylbenzyl) compounds, bis(propenylphenoxy) compounds and bis(benzocyclobutenes) are very attractive Diels Alder comonomers and therefore some are used as constituents for BMI resin formulations. An important chemical reaction of the maleimide group is the ENE reaction with allylphenyl compounds. The most attractive comonomer of this family is DABA particularly when tough bismaleimide resins are desired. 

The reactive 3-carbonyl group in compounds of type (279) undergoes aldol condensation with active methylene compounds such reactions of isatin with indoxyl, oxindole (Section 3.3.2.5.4) and with thiophenes (Section 3.3.1.5.7.ii) have already been mentioned. These compounds also react with Grignard reagents and phosphorus halides as expected, e.g. isatin (279 Z = NH) with MeMgBr and PC13 yields (285) and (286), respectively. 

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