Complexation-Initiated Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction

A complexation-initiated intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction was demonstrated for the first time. On adsorbing the alkyne-Co(2)(CO)(6) complexes having a diene and a dienophile on opposite ends of the alkyne on silica gel, the Diels-Alder reaction was accelerated and the equilibrium was shifted toward the adduct formation to a greater extent compared to that in solution. Seven-membered ring formation was apparently favorable in this system.