Pyridines have been formed by heating azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-4-ones in toluene. The generation of a 3-azacyclopentadienone intermediate via a [2 + 2]-cycloreversion is proposed as the key step. A Diels-Alder reaction of a styrene, extrusion of carbon monoxide, and loss of hydrogen then gives the pyridine. The process parallels the well-known synthesis of benzenes from cyclopentadienones. Th...

Many isoprenylated flavonoids have been isolated from Japanese mulberry tree (Moraceae). Among them, kuwanons G (1) and H (2) were the first isolated active substances exhibiting a hypotensive effect. These compounds are considered to be formed through an enzymatic Diels-Alder type reaction between an isoprenyl portion of an isoprenylphenol as the diene and an alpha, beta-double bond of chalcon...

a series of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions are carried out using cyclodimers of simple nitrones and various dipolarophiles; substituted isoxazolidines are isolated and identified. it is proved that such cyclodimers, in solution, are in equilibrium with their corresponding nitrones and enamines. it is also concluded that aldocyclodimers are more potent than keto-cyclodimers in establishing ...

This review illustrates how water, as an environmentally friendly solvent, can have significant additional benefits when it is used as a solvent for the Diels–Alder reaction. The mechanism by which the unique properties of water enhance the rate and selectivity are discussed. Also, possibilities for the achievement of further increases in rate and enantioselectivity of aqueous Diels–Alder react...

The natural product paracaseolide A is a tetracyclic dilactone containing six adjacent stereocentres. Its skeleton occupies a unique structural space among the >200,000 characterized secondary metabolites. Six different research groups have reported a chemical synthesis of this compound, five of which used a thermal, net Diels-Alder [4+2] cycloaddition and dehydration at 110 °C to access the ta...

The effect on catalyst performance of altering substituents at the 2-position of the Macmillan imidazolidinone has been examined. Condensation of L-phenylalanine N-methyl amide with acetophenone derivatives results in a series of imidazolidinones whose salts can be used to accelerate the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Electron withdrawing groups significantly increase the overall rate of cycloaddit...

The development of multicomponent reactions (MCRs) designed to produce elaborate biologically active compounds has become an important area of research in organic, combinatorial, and medicinal chemistry. A comparative study of the synthesis of new bis-spiro-oxindolo(pyrrolizidines/pyrrolidines) ring systems by the cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated by a decarboxylative route from sarc...

This report details the synthesis of several benzonorbornadienes by Diels--Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene derivatives with substituted benzyne intermediates, which were generated by low-temperature metal--halogen exchange of halobenzenes. General conditions were developed, allowing synthesis of most benzonorbornadienes described herein at the multigram scale with isolated yields approac...