What is the synthetic importance of the Diels-Alder reaction?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 6, 2017

Well, in the simplest reaction you are making 2xxC-C bonds..........

Explanation:

"Diene + olefin "rarr" 6-membered ring"

And as you know, the number of C-C bond formation reactions is small indeed. And thus Diels Alder reactions are VERY BIG DEALS. Modern variants of the Diels-Alder reaction have introduced stereocontrol into the reaction, and have also allowed the introduction of heteroatoms.

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