Diels-Alder reactions of surfactant reagents

One of the first examples of Diels Alder reactions of surfactant reagents was reported by Keana [69]. 

A higher regioselectivity was observed [70c] in the cycloaddition in water at 25 °C of diene surfactant 103 with 100 (Equation 4.14, 104/105 = 6.7 1) in agreement with the expectation that the organizational ability of aqueous aggregates is higher at lower temperatures. 

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Micellar medium has received great attention because it solubilizes, concentrates and orientates the reactants within the micelle core and in this way accelerates the reaction and favors the regio- and stereoselectivity of the process [68], In addition the micellar medium is cheap, can be reused, is more versatile than cyclodextrins and more robust than enzymes. With regard to Diels Alder reactions, we may distinguish between (i) those in which one or both reagents are surfactants which make up the micellar medium, and (ii) those that are carried out in a micellar medium prepared by a suitable surfactant. 

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