Diels-Alder cycloaddition mechanism

A prominent example for the latter is the self-initiation of styrene, which proceeds via Diels-Alder reaction of two monomers, as depicted in Scheme 1.7. Such self-initiated polymerization processes are typically limited to elevated temperatures, and can often be prevented under very pure conditions. Few monomers are capable of self-initiation even under very pure conditions, one of which is styrene, reacting via a self Diels-Alder cycloaddition mechanism. The self-initiated bulk polymerization of styrene has a substantial activation energy a 50% monomer conversion needs 400 days at 29 °C, but only 4h at 127 °C. However, the produced polystyrene is very pure due to the absence of initiators and other additives. 

The mechanism of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition is different from that of other reactions we ve studied because it is neither polar nor radical. Rather, the Diels-Alder reaction is a pericyclic process. Pericyclic reactions, which we ll discuss in more detail in Chapter 30, take place in a single step by a cyclic redistribution of bonding electrons. The two reactants simply join together through a cyclic transition state in which the two new carbon-carbon bonds form at the same time. 

Figure 14.7 Mechanism of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. The reaction occurs in a single step through a cyclic transition state in which the two new carbon-carbon bonds form simultaneously.

We ve seen that the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction is a one-step, peri-cyclic process that occurs through a cyclic transition state. Propose a mechanism for the following reaction ... 

Anionic Diels-Alder reactions have been studied less extensively with the interest having been focused mainly on the cycloaddition of enolates of a,/l-unsaturated ketones with electron-poor olefins [24] (Equations 1.8 and 1.9). These reactions are fast and stereoselective and can be regarded as a sequential double Michael condensation, but a mechanism involving a Diels-Alder cycloaddition seems to be preferred [24b,f, 25]. 

It must be emphasized once again that the rules apply only to cycloaddition reactions that take place by cyclic mechanisms, that is, where two s bonds are formed (or broken) at about the same time. The rule does not apply to cases where one bond is clearly formed (or broken) before the other. It must further be emphasized that the fact that the thermal Diels-Alder reaction (mechanism a) is allowed by the principle of conservation of orbital symmetry does not constitute proof that any given Diels-Alder reaction proceeds by this mechanism. The principle merely says the mechanism is allowed, not that it must go by this pathway. However, the principle does say that thermal 2 + 2 cycloadditions in which the molecules assume a face-to-face geometry cannot take place by a cyclic mechanism because their activation energies would be too high (however, see below). As we shall see (15-49), such reactions largely occur by two-step mechanisms. Similarly. 2 + 4 photochemical cycloadditions are also known, but the fact that they are not stereospecific indicates that they also take place by the two-step diradical mechanism (mechanism... 

In an attempt to further elucidate the mechanism of this process, these workers monitored the reaction between propiophenone enolsilane and fumaroylimide by in situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Scheme 25 (240). In the absence of alcoholic additives, the accumulation of an intermediate is observed prior to appearance of product. When i-PrOH is introduced, immediate decomposition of the intermediate occurs with concomitant formation of product. Evans suggests that the intermediate observed in this reaction is dihydropyran (374). Indeed, this reaction may be viewed as a hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition followed by alcohol induced decomposition to the desired Michael adduct. That 374 may be acting as a competent inhibitor was suggested by an observed rate reduction when this reaction was conducted in the presence of IV-methyloxazolidinone. 

Regioselective syntheses of 1,3,5-unsymmetrically substituted benzenes (309) are catalyzed by Pd(dba)2/PPh3 mixed alkyne/diyne reactants give mixtures containing homocoupled and mixed products (24 21 from HC CPh + HC=CC= CC Hn). The probable mechanism involves oxidative addition to the Pd(0) center, insertion of the second diyne into the Pd—H bond, reductive coupling and subsequent jr-complexation of this product to Pd(0), followed by Diels-Alder cycloaddition of the third diyne and elimination of product. 

The authors proposed mechanism for dimerization involves initial formation of metal vinylidene complex 9 via 1,2-H-migration. A second molecule of arylacetylene acts as a dienophUe in a formal [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition with 9. A subsequent... 

The mechanistically quite similar double Michael reaction of 2-silyloxy dienes and enones has been shown recently to go via a similar two-step mechanism rather than a Diels-Alder cycloaddition S. Kobayashi, Y. Sagawa, H. Akamatsu and T. Mukaiyama, Chem. Lett., 1988, 1777. 

The aromaticities of symmetry-allowed and -forbidden transition states for electrocyclic reactions and sigmatropic rearrangements involving two, four, and six r-electrons, and Diels-Alder cycloadditions, have been investigated by ab initio CASSCF calculations and analysis based on an index of deviation from aromaticity. The order of the aromaticity levels was found to correspond to the energy barriers for some of the reactions studied, and also to the allowed or forbidden nature of the transition states.2 The uses of catalytic metal vinylidene complexes in electrocycliza-tion, [l,5]-hydrogen shift reactions, and 2 + 2-cycloadditions, and the mechanisms of these transformations, have been reviewed.3... 

Solvent effect on rate constants. In this section, the rate constant will be predicted qualitatively in CO2 for the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of isoprene and maleic anhydride, a reaction which has been well-characterized in the liquid state (23,24). In a previous paper, we used E data for phenol blue in ethylene to predict the rate constant of the Menschutkin reaction of tripropylamine and methyliodide (19). The reaction mechanisms are quite different, yet the solvent effect on the rate constant of both reactions can be correlated with E of phenol blue in liquid solvents. The dipole moment increases in the Menschutkin reaction going from the reactant state to the transition state and in phenol blue during electronic excitation, so that the two phenomena are correlated. In the above Diels-Alder reaction, the reaction coordinate is isopolar with a negative activation volume (8,23),... 

Annulated pyridines are reported to be synthesized via a [4+2] cycloaddition involving oxazoles (Scheme 121 Table 10) <20010L877>. The reaction mechanism is classified as a domino process with an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition followed by a retro-Michael reaction. 

Fig. M. Mechanism of Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Aromaticity Definition...

Diels-Alder reactions of heterodienophiles have been known for decades, but only recently has this methodology become widely accepted by the synthetic community. There is enormous diversity in the structural types of compounds which can act as heterodienophiles, and a wide array of heterocyclic adducts can be prepared via these [4 + 2] cycloadditions. It seems clear that hetero Diels-Alder reactions span a range of mechanism from concerted to stepwise ionic processes. In many instances, mechanistic information is totally lacking. The discussion below therefore classifies heterodienophiles by structural rather than mechanistic class. Only the major types of synthetically useful heterodienophiles have been included. Moreover, the significant regio- and stereo-chemical features of the reactions have been exemplified as much as possible using recently reported cases. Other more comprehensive and more specialized reviews should be consulted for older material and more obscure hetero Diels-Alder cycloadditions. 

Evidence for the operation of cation radical mechanisms for cycloaddition has often been provided by means of a comparison of the results obtained for various methods of generating cation radicals. For example, in the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of phenyl vinyl sulfide to 1,3-cyclopentadiene (Scheme 36) the same adducts are formed whether the cation radicals are generated by chemical ionization (aminium salt), photochemical ionization (the PET method), or electrochemical ionization (anodic oxidation) [65]. 

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