Diels Alder Reaction

Diels Alder Reaction

The Diels-Alder reaction is a Pericyclic reaction.  Pericyclic reactions are concert (i.e all bond breaking and making in a single step) and proceeds through a cyclic aromatic transition state.  It is the reaction of a diene and a dienophile and is reffered to as a (4π + 2π) cycloaddition reaction since 4π electrons are involved in the diene and 2π in the dienopihile, but there are other types (e.g. (6π + 2π)

Drawing Diels-Alder Products

1) Draw a dotted line from ends of diene to the ends of the dienophile.

2) Shuffle electrons around and draw the product.

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