Effect of a Competing n Donor on the Rate of AlCl3-Catalyzed Diels-Alder Reaction of 9,10-Dimethylanthracene with Maleic Anhydride

The catalytic effect of AlCl₃ on the Diels-Alder reaction of 9,10-dimethylanthracene with maleic anhydride is dramatically weakened on addition of a competing n donor, dibutyl ether. The n,v complex of aluminum chloride with dibutyl ether is considerably more stable than the complex with maleic anhydride; therefore, the catalytic effect is suppressed even at comparable concentrations of these n donors.