Diels-Alder Reaction


Pericyclic reaction like Claisen rearrangement and Cope rearrangement

Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory (FMO theory)

Diels-Alder reaction requires

1. Diene in s-cis configuration



2. Dienophile

3. Donor/Acceptors increase the reaction rate



4. Retains configuration of dienophile


5. Regioselectivity


6. Transition state

aromatic with 4n+2 electrons in cyclic TS --> lower activation energy



7. Alternate Benzyne formation


8. Examples