New photoluminescent phenylated polyfluorenes

A new fluorene-containing bis(cyclopentadienone) is synthesized. The interaction of this compound with various diethynylarylenes via the Diels-Alder reaction gives rise to new photoactive phenylated polyfluorenes that emit blue light. Absorption and fluorescence maxima are observed at 330–359 and 394–426 nm, respectively. Polymers show good solubility in organic solvents and possess high chemical resistance and thermal stability.     

Synthesis of [60]fullerene-functionalized rotaxanes

Synthesis of [60]fullerene (C₆₀)-functionalized rotaxanes via Diels-Alder reactions with C₆₀ is described. Diels-Alder reaction of C₆₀ and sulfolene moiety as masked diene attached on the wheels of rotaxanes results in high yields of C₆₀ incorporation. Rotaxanes are prepared by tin-catalyzed urethane-forming end-capping reaction with isocyanate of pseudorotaxane having the wheel carrying C₆₀ functionality as introduced by the Diels-Alder reaction. The Diels-Alder reaction was accomplished as end-capping reaction between C₆₀ and pseudorotaxane bearing sultine moiety as masked diene on the axle terminal. A variety of C₆₀-containing [2]rotaxanes was prepared in moderate to good yields by these Diels-Alder protocols.     

Stereoselectivity in intramolecular diels-alder reactions; a short total synthesis of (±)-estrone

A new synthesis of estrone via an internal Diels-Alder reaction is reported.     

Functionalisation of a diene-modified hairpin mimic via the Diels-Alder reaction

A highly stable 1,3-butadiene-derived DNA hairpin mimic and its derivatisation via the Diels-Alder reaction with various dienophiles are described.     

Tandem Pd-catalyzed carbonylation and intramolecular vinyl allene Diels-Alder reaction toward galiellalactone analogues

A novel route toward new galiellalactone analogues via a tandem palladium-catalyzed carbonylation and intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a dienyne carbonate is presented.     

Novel Synthesis of Benzosubstituted Benzofurans Via Diels-Alder Reaction

A useful synthetic approach to benzosubstltuted benzofurans via Diels-Alder reaction of 2-vinyl furans is described.     

Tandem inverse electron demand Diels-Alder, retro-Diels-Alder and intramolecular Diels-Alder sequences: one-pot synthesis of diaza-polycycles

A new and straightforward methodology is described for the construction of complex nitrogen-containing polycycles from substituted 1,2,4-triazines and enamines, prepared in situ from carbonyl components and allylic amines. The transformation proceeds via a pericyclic reaction cascade (inverse electron demand Diels-Alder then retro-Diels-Alder then intramolecular Diels-Alder) forming the polycyclic systems in good to excellent yield and with high diastereoselectivity in a one-pot procedure. The scope and limitations of the methodology are described as are preliminary studies to extend its synthetic utility.     

Cyclopentadienones as intermediates for the synthesis of highly functionalized biaryls

A new approach to the synthesis of substituted biaryls, via Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadienones and arylacetylenes, is described.     

Palladium-catalyzed tandem carbonylation and intramolecular diels-alder reaction of 4-alken-2-ynyl carbonates: a new synthetic method for polycyclic compounds

A new synthetic method for polycyclic compounds via the palladium-catalyzed tandem carbonylation and intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction is described.     

A silica-gel accelerated [4 + 2] cycloaddition-based biomimetic approach towards the first total synthesis of magterpenoid C

The first total synthesis of magterpenoid C has been realized via a silica gel accelerated biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction between β-myrcene and randaiol derived quinone. However, application of similar strategy towards magterpenoid B via a protective Diels-Alder reaction failed to deliver the natural product.     

Theoretical insights into the metal-free and formal [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition strategy via intramolecular cascade propargylic ene/Diels-Alder reactions with tautomerization

A metal-free and formal [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of triynes has emerged recently as a novel methodology for the synthesis of fused tricyclic compounds via an intramolecular cascade propargylic ene reaction, Diels-Alder cycloaddition and tautomerization. DFT calculations on three model systems reveal that the ene reaction with low distortion energy makes the metal-free strategy feasible and, as the rate-determining step, affects the regioselectivity of unsymmetric triynes. Furthermore, the types of final products depend on H-transfer during tautomerization after the Diels-Alder reaction. Generally, the different tethered atoms between the yne moieties are responsible for the different regioselectivities and the final products in the [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions. On the basis of a comprehensive theoretical investigation into the mechanism, triynes involving cyclic ynes have been designed and are predicted to react to afford fused tetracyclic products under milder conditions due to dramatically lower energy barriers and by altering the rate-determining step to the Diels-Alder reaction.     

Transannular Diels-Alder studies on the asymmetric total synthesis of chatancin: the pyranophane approach

[reaction: see text] A pathway is proposed for the biosynthesis of (+)-chatancin and (+)-sarcophytin linking these tetracycles to cembranoids by a pyranophane transannular Diels-Alder reaction. Preliminary synthetic results in this direction to reach macrocyclic dienedione 28 from farnesol are reported. Major synthetic steps include a Prins reaction, two enantioselective hydrogenations, and a macrocyclization via a beta-ketosulfoxide Michael-addition on an enone.     

Mechanism of scandium ion catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of anthracenes with methyl vinyl ketone

Rates of Diels-Alder cycloadditions of anthracenes with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) are accelerated significantly by the presence of scandium triflate [Sc(OTf)3]. Sc(OTf)3 also promotes photoinduced electron-transfer reactions from various electron donors to MVK significantly. Comparison of the promoting effect of Sc(OTf)3 in photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of MVK with the catalytic effect of Sc(OTf)3 in the Diels-Alder reaction of 9,10-dimethylanthracene with MVK has revealed that the MVK-Sc(OTf)3 complex is a reactive intermediate in both the Diels-Alder and photoinduced electron-transfer reactions. The observed second-order rate constants of the Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with MVK are by far larger than those expected from the observed linear Gibbs energy relation for the Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with stronger electron acceptors than MVK, which are known to proceed via electron transfer. This indicates that the Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with MVK does not proceed via an electron-transfer process from anthracences to the MVK-Sc(OTf)3 complex.     

Short synthesis of the CDEF ring system of lactonamycin

[reaction: see text]. A synthesis of the CDEF fragment of lactonamycin is achieved in eight steps (six pots) from the known and readily available anhydride 4 via a Diels-Alder reaction between tricycle 13 and 2,3-dimethylbenzoquinone.     

An efficient synthesis of (±)-panduratin A and (±)-isopanduratin A, inhibitors of dengue-2 viral activity

Panduratin A and its regioisomer isopanduratin A are synthesized in four steps from (E)-ocimene, [(E)-3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene] via a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction.     

A concise and diversity-oriented strategy for the synthesis of benzofurans and indoles via Ugi and Diels-Alder reactions

A one-pot synthesis of diverse benzofurans and indoles from readily available starting materials was achieved via the sequential Ugi four-component reaction, intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, and oxidative aromatization.     

Synthesis of the zoanthamine ABC ring system: some surprises from intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions

[reaction: see text] In connection with the total synthesis of the marine alkaloids zoanthamine and norzoanthamine, an elaborate model study was conducted starting from (-)-carvone. In nine steps alkenyl iodides corresponding to the C11-C24 fragment of zoanthamine were obtained. The alkenyl iodides were coupled to various stannanes (C6-C10 fragment) via the Corey modification of the Stille reaction, affording a variety of Diels-Alder precursors. An interesting and highly unexpected cascade reaction sequence was observed during the screening of an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, generating a novel tetracyclic framework. A slight modification in the Diels-Alder precursor allowed the desired cycloaddition to take place, giving the cycloadduct in 87% yield.     

Selective oxidative cyclization by FeCl3 in the construction of 10H-indeno[1,2-b]triphenylene skeletons in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A novel family of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of various shapes based on the 10H-indeno[1,2-b]triphenylene skeleton has been synthesized via a reaction sequence of Diels-Alder reaction, decarbonylation, followed by an oxidative cyclization. In particular, the reaction conditions for regioselective oxidative cyclization promoted by FeCl3 are investigated, and this reaction is employed as an effective method to afford the above molecules under mild conditions. Their photophysical properties in dilute solution are also reported.     

One-pot stereoselective synthesis of tricyclic bislactones from 2-pyrones and 2-methoxyfuran

[reaction: see text] A one-pot synthesis of the title compounds via highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions of 2-pyrones with 2-methoxyfuran is described.     

Synthesis and characterization of star polyfluorenes with a C60 core

C60‐cored star polyfluorenes were synthesized and fully characterized. A high yield (81%) hexakisaddition of C60 was developed by using Prato reaction and bulky fluorene addends. Suzuki polycondensation of the hexakisadducts of C60 carrying six 2‐bromofluorene addends and AB‐type monomer (2‐bromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐ [1,3,2]‐dioxaborane) with Pd(PPh₃)₄ as the catalyst precursor afforded the desired C60‐cored star polyfluorenes. Their three‐dimensional structure can effectively reduce the aggregation of the polyfluorene chains. Annealing studies indicated that the C60‐cored star polyfluorenes are of good color stability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4696–4706, 2007