Gain or loss of aromaticity in Diels–Alder transition states and adducts: a theoretical investigation

Abstract

Semiempirical, ab initio and DFT investigations on the mechanism of the Diels–Alder reactions of a set of masked dienes (ring-fused dienes), viz. o-quinodimethane, anthracene and α-vinylnaphthalene, with ethylene, and reactions of α-vinylnaphthalene with maleic anhydride and p-benzoquinone were performed with a view to understanding the role of masking factors on the activation and reaction energies. The reactions were found to occur in a concerted fashion through synchronous transition states (TSs) in the first two reactions and through asynchronous TS in the other case. Of the compounds studied, o-quinodimethane is the most reactive diene both in a kinetic and a thermodynamic sense. α-Vinylnaphthalene reacts faster with maleic anhydride than p-benzoquinone, as expected, and two possible stereoselective TSs, one endo and the other exo, have been located for the reactions of α-vinylnaphthalene with the above dienophiles. Calculations show that the relative gain or loss of aromatic stabilization of the benzonoid ring in the transition state and in the product seems to play a major role in the kinetic and thermodynamic control of these reactions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.