| Abstract: | Diels-Alder reactions of six o-benzoquinones with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate has been examined. The yields of adducts vary with the natures of the o-benzoquinones, 3,4-Di-n-propyl-(1c), 3,6-di-n-propyl (1d). 3. 4-diallyl-(1e) and 3, 6-diallyl-o-benzoquinone (1f) are found to give bicyclic a-diketones exclusively without the formation of 1,4-dioxine derivatives, the yields ranging from 20 to 70%. In the case of 4, 5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone, dimethyl 4, 5-dimethoxyphthalate is produced in 42% yield, presumably derived from the decomposition of the corresponding initially formed α-diketone. 3, 6-Di-n-propyl-4, 5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone deteriorates without addition to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate upon heating. The additions of o-benzoquinones 1c , 1d and 1f to phenylacetylene are also studied. The yields of adducts, α-diketones, range from 23% to 82%. |
