Diels-Alder reaction

The Diels-Alder reaction is an organic chemical reaction (specifically, a cycloaddition) between a conjugated diene and a substituted alkene, commonly termed the dienophile to form a substituted cyclohexene system. The reaction can proceed even if some of the atoms in the newly-formed ring are not carbon. Some of the Diels-Alder reactions are reversible; the decomposition reaction of the cyclic system is then called the Retro-Diels-Alder.

Related Topics:
Organic - Chemical reaction - Cycloaddition - Diene - Alkene - Dienophile - Cyclohexene - Carbon

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This reaction belongs to a larger class known as cycloadditions, which are characterized by the formation of a ring by a process involving two pi electrons of one reactant and four pi electrons of the other. Such reactions tend to be especially rapid because the transition state (see activation energy) involves six pi electrons delocalized around a ring, much like benzene. It therefore has some aromatic character and is particularly stable. By comparison, and cycloadditions tend to be much slower, as the transition state is anti-aromatic. These reactions can be performed photochemically.

Related Topics:
Pi electron - Transition state - Activation energy - Benzene - Aromatic - Anti-aromatic - Photochemically

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