Diels Alder Reaction Mechanism

It is the prototypical example of a pericyclic reaction with a concerted mechanism more specifically it is classified as a thermally allowed 4 2 cycloaddition with. On the right is our dienophile.

Diels Alder Mechanism

This organic chemistry video tutorial provides a basic introduction into the diels alder reaction which is a 4 2 cycloaddition reaction.

Diels alder reaction mechanism. Reaction mechanism the diels alder reaction is a thermal cycloaddition whose mechanism involves the sigma overlap of the pi orbitals of the two unsaturated systems. Overlap of the molecular orbitals mos is required. The diels alder reaction combines a diene a molecule with two alternating double bonds and a dienophile an alkene to make rings and bicyclic compounds the three double bonds in the two starting materials are converted into two new single bonds and one new double bond.

Let s take a look at that word. In organic chemistry the diels alder reaction is a chemical reaction between a conjugated diene and a substituted alkene commonly termed the dienophile also spelled dieneophile to form a substituted cyclohexene derivative. Overlap between the highest occupied mo of the diene homo and the lowest unoccupied mo of the dienophile lumo is thermally allowed in the diels alder reaction provided the orbitals are of similar energy.

Mechanism of the diels alder reaction. How to draw the products for a diels alder reaction. Learn the specifics of the diels alder mechanism.

There is not a single mechanism for all diels alder reactions. At first approximation we can divide them into two classes. On the left we have our diene so we have two double bonds in that molecule.

The reaction is a concerted process. Diels alder reaction is a cycloaddition reaction results in the formation of a new ring from two reactants. Due to the high degree of both regio and stereoselectivity due to the concerted mechanism the diels alder reaction is a very powerful reaction and is therefore widely used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Narrator diels alder reaction is a very important reaction because it s used a lot in synthesis to make complicated molecules. A concerted mechanism requires that a single transition state and therefore no intermediate lie on the reaction path between reactants and adduct. Mechanism contributors the diels alder reaction is a 4 2 cycloaddition in which a conjugated diene called the diene reacts with an alkene group or an alkyne group in a compound called the dienophile to give a cycloadduct called the diels alder adduct.

It discusses the reactivity of the diene and dienophile. Watch the next lesson.

Diels Alder Reaction