Protoporphorins

Careful product and kinetic studies for selected electron-deficient alkenes, electron-rich dienes and vinyl-substituted aromatic systems have provided some clarification of the [2 + 2] versus [2 + 2] cycloaddition issue. The thermodynamically favored product can often be anticipated on structural grounds. Reactions of TCNE with vinyl-substituted benzenoid aromatics, protoporphorins or heteroaromaticsgive [2 + 2] products, but for some styrenes the [2 + 4] addition may be kinetically favored. p-Methoxystyrene and TCNE react to form a charge-transfer complex which leads reversibly to the Diels-Alder product, and eventually to the finally isolated [2 + 2] adduct. An isomer of di-cyclopentadiene shows the same pattern, with the initially formed Diels-Alder adduct giving rise to a [2 + 2] adduct. 

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