Electrocyclic Reactions

Under construction

This page is a draft outline. It is visible to admins and still needs a full lesson.

Klein 16.8. A conjugated polyene closes to a ring, or a ring opens, in one concerted step.

  • What "electrocyclic" means, and how it differs from a cycloaddition such as Diels-Alder.
  • 4π and 6π systems, and the thermal stereochemical outcome: conrotatory versus disrotatory.
  • One thermal ring closure of a triene and one of a diene, with the substituent stereochemistry drawn.
  • Photochemical conditions reverse the selection rules. State that result. A full orbital proof can wait.