Diels-Alder reactions carbon-oxygen bond formation

Since the disclosures that the thermal dimerizations of acrolein and methyl vinyl ketone provide the 3,4-dihydro-2//-pyrans (1, 2) derived from 4ir and 2Tt participation of the a,3-unsaturated carbonyl compound in a Diels-Alder reaction, an extensive series of related observations have been detailed. This work has been the subject of several comprehensive reviews - - including the Desimoni and Tacco-ni extensive tabular compilation of work through 1974. Consequently, the prior reviews should be consulted for thorough treatments of the mechanism, scope, and applications of the [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of a,3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes with their 4-it participation in the Diels-Alder reaction exhibit predictable regioselectivity with the preferential or exclusive formation of 2-substituted 3,4-dihydro-2W-pyrans (equation 1). The exceptions to the predicted regioselectivity that have been observed involve the poorly matched [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of an electron-deficient l-oxa-l,3-butadiene with an electron-deficient dienophile, e.g. methyl crotonate or methacrolein. - Rigorous or simplified theoretical treatments of the [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes predict the preferential formation of 2-substituted 3,4-dihy-dro-2f/-pyrans and accommodate the preferred endo approach of the reactants in which the carbon-carbon bond formation is more advanced than carbon-oxygen bond formation, i.e. a concerted but nonsynchronous [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. ... 

Predictions based on rigorous or simplified theoretical calculations support the formation of the predominant 2-substituted 3,4-dihydro-2//-pyran regioisomer and accommodate a preferred endo approach of the reactants in which the carbon-carbon bond formation is more advanced than carbon-oxygen bond formation, i.e., a concerted but nonsynchronous [4 + 2] cycloaddition.5 15-20 Notable exceptions to the predicted regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reactions of oxabutadienes have been observed, and without exception the examples have involved the poorly matched reaction of electron-deficient a,/3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (An-component) with electron-deficient dienophiles (2tt component), e.g., methyl crotonate or methacrolein.5 2122... 

Bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-l(5)-ene 178 (Scheme 4.55) is a stable compound with a flattened alkene fragment and exhibits a regular pattern of reactivity. Computational studies revealed, however, that installation of a short 3,7-bridge should lead to noticeable pyramidalization of the double bond. Compounds like 179-181 were synthesized to check this prediction. Tricyclic hydrocarbon 179, with the smallest possible bridge, was generated as a transient species from diiodide 182. The formation of 179 is implicated by the isolation of its cyclodimer 183 (or respective Diels-Alder adduct if the reaction is carried out in the presence of a 1,3-diene). The next member of this series, 180, is more stable. In fact, the formation of 180 was ascertained not only from the structure of the final products (as was done for 179), but also by its matrix isolation and analysis of spectral data. The selenium derivative 181 was found to be stable at ambient temperature in the absence of oxygen. X-ray data confirmed a noticeable pyramidalization of the double bond in 181 but the distortion was different [Pg.372]

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