Solvent Influence on the Diels‐Alder Reaction Rates of 9‐(Hydroxymethyl)anthracene and 9,10‐Bis(hydroxymethyl)anthracene with Two Maleimides

The rates of the Diels–Alder reaction of 9‐(hydroxymethyl)anthracene and 9,10‐bis(hydroxymethyl)anthracene with maleic anhydride and two maleimides, N‐ethyl‐ and N‐phenylmaleimide, have been studied at various temperatures and pressures in different solvent media. A rate acceleration in water in comparison with organic solvents is observed. Thermodynamic functions of activation for the reaction of 9,10‐bis(hydroxymethyl)anthracene with N‐ethylmaleimide in binary 1,4‐dioxane–water mixtures are determined. From the observed tendencies, it can be concluded that acceleration of the Diels–Alder reactions in water is linked with an energetically favorable dehydration of the reaction centers of the reactants on the way to the activated complex. Addition of an organic cosolvent makes the desolvation of these centers less favorable.     

Diels–Alder modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐anthracene‐2,6‐carboxylate) with N‐substituted maleimides

Dimethyl 2,6‐anthracene dicarboxylate is used as a comonomer in the synthesis of functional copolymers that are subject to modification with Diels–Alder reactions. The formation of poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐2,6‐anthracenate), containing less than 20 mol % of the anthracene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate structural units, provides materials that are tractable and soluble. The anthracene units of the copolymers undergo Diels–Alder reactions with N‐substituted maleimides. The grafting of N‐alkylmaleimides affords soluble, hydrophobic polymers, whereas grafting with maleimide‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) affords hydrophilic polymers. Because this reaction proceeds below the melting point of the copolymers, the procedure can be applied to thin films, whereby the surface properties are modified. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3256–3263, 2002     

Synthesis of hydrocarbon polymers containing bulky dibenzobicyclic moiety by ROMP and their characteristic optical properties

The eight‐membered cyclic monomer, prepared by Diels–Alder reaction of 1,5‐cyclooctadiene and anthracene, polymerized via Ru‐catalyzed ring‐opening metathesis to efficiently afford high polymers (M_n up to 631,000). Unsaturated moieties in the main chain of the obtained polymer were hydrogenated with a homogeneous ruthenium catalyst in quantitative conversion, confirmed by ¹H‐NMR measurement. The self‐standing membranes were provided by casting the tetrahydrofuran solutions of both nonhydrogenated and hydrogenated polymers. The obtained membranes showed high transparency in the region of >300 nm with mechanical flexibility. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that both nonhydrogenated and hydrogenated polymers decomposed in two stages. The first‐stage decomposition starting at around 230 °C was caused by retro Diels–Alder reaction forming anthracene, proven by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS) analyses. Mechanical grinding of the polymers induced the formation of anthracene in solid state, which transformed the polymer into blue‐luminescent materials under UV irradiation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1392–1400     

Multiarm star block copolymers via Diels‐Alder click reaction

Two types of multiarm star block copolymers: (polystyrene)_m‐poly(divinylbenzene)‐poly(methyl methacrylate)_n, (PS)_m‐polyDVB‐(PMMA)_n and (polystyrene)_m‐poly(divinylbenzene)‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)_k, (PS)_m‐polyDVB‐(PtBA)_k were successfully prepared via a combination of cross‐linking and Diels–Alder click reactions based on “arm‐first” methodology. For this purpose, multiarm star polymer with anthracene functionality as reactive periphery groups was prepared by a cross‐linking reaction of divinyl benzene using α‐anthracene end functionalized polystyrene (PS‐Anth) as a macroinitiator. Thus, obtained multiarm star polymer was then reacted with furan protected maleimide‐end functionalized polymers: PMMA‐MI or PtBA‐MI at reflux temperature of toluene for 48 h resulting in the corresponding multiarm star block copolymers via Diels–Alder click reaction. The multiarm star and multiarm star block copolymers were characterized by using ¹H NMR, SEC, Viscotek triple detection SEC (TD‐SEC) and UV. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 178–187, 2009     

One‐pot Two‐Step Cycloaddition Reaction for Convenient Synthesis of Polycyclic Spirooxindole‐fused [1,3]Oxazines

The novel spirooxindoline fused [1,3]oxazines were efficiently synthesized from Diels‐Alder reaction of N‐arylmaleimides with 1,2‐dihydro‐2‐oxospiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′‐[2H,9aH‐pyrido[2,1‐b][1,3]oxazines], which were generated in situ from three‐component reactions of substituted pyridines and isatins with methyl propiolate, or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. The stereochemistry of the products was clearly clarified by the analysis of ¹H NMR data and single crystal structures of the obtained polycyclic compounds.     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder and Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters with Cyclopentadiene Catalyzed by N,N′‐Dioxide Copper(II) Complex

Highly enantioselective Diels–Alder (DA) and inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder (HDA) reactions of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with cyclopentadiene catalyzed by chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Cu(OTf)₂ (Tf=triflate) complexes have been developed. Quantitative conversion of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee) were observed for a broad range of substrates. Both aromatic and aliphatic β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters were found to be suitable substrates for the reactions. Moreover, the chemoselectivity of the DA and HDA adducts were improved by regulating the reaction temperature. Good to high chemoselectivity (up to 94 %) of the DA adducts were obtained at room temperature, and moderate chemoselectivity (up to 65 %) of the HDA adducts were achieved at low temperature. The reaction also featured mild reaction conditions, a simple procedure, and remarkably low catalyst loading (0.1–1.5 mol %). A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of [2,3]‐Fused Indoline Heterocycles through Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Aza‐Diels–Alder Reaction of Indoles with Azoalkenes

An unprecedented catalytic asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand aza‐Diels–Alder reaction of indoles with in situ formed azoalkenes is reported. A diverse set of [2,3]‐fused indoline heterocycles were achieved in generally good yields (up to 97 %) with high regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity (>20:1 d.r.), and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Diversified Cycloisomerization/Diels–Alder Reactions of 1,6‐Enynes through Bimetallic Relay Asymmetric Catalysis

We report the combination of transition‐metal‐catalyzed diversified cycloisomerization of 1,6‐enynes with chiral Lewis acid promoted asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction to realize asymmetric cycloisomerization/Diels–Alder relay reactions of 1,6‐enynes with electron‐deficient alkenes. A broad spectrum of chiral [5,6]‐bicyclic products could be acquired in high yields (up to 99 %) with excellent diastereoselectivy (>19:1 dr) and enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Dendronized polystyrene via orthogonal double‐click reactions

Dendronized copolymers bearing two different dendrons as side chains have been synthesized using a modular orthogonal “double‐click” reaction based strategy. The orthogonality of the Huisgen‐type azide‐alkyne cycloaddition and the Diels–Alder reaction was utilized to attach different dendrons to the polymer backbone via the “graft‐to” strategy. First through third generations of polyaryl ether dendrons appended with an alkyne group and polyester dendrons possessing a furan‐protected maleimide group at their focal point were reacted with a styrene based copolymer containing azide and anthracene moieties as side chains. The efficiency and selectivity of the orthogonal dendronization of the copolymers were examined via various analytical methods such as ¹H NMR spectroscopy, FTIR and gel permeation chromatography. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5029–5037     

Stereoselection in the diels–alderase ribozyme: A molecular dynamics study

The Diels‐Alderase ribozyme is an in vitro‐evolved ribonucleic acid enzyme that catalyzes a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between an anthracene diene and a maleimide dienophile. The ribozyme can in principle be used to selectively synthesize only one product enantiomer, depending on which of the two entrances to the catalytic pocket, “front” or “back”, the substrate is permitted to use. Here, we investigate stereoselection and substrate recognition in the ribozyme by means of multiple molecular dynamics simulations, performed on each of the two substrates individually in the pocket, on the reactant state, and on the product state. The results are consistent with a binding mechanism in which the maleimide likely binds first followed by the anthracene, which enters preferentially through the front door. The free energy profiles for anthracene binding indicate that the pre‐(R,R)‐enantiomer conformation is slightly preferred, in agreement with the experimentally observed small enantiomeric excess of the (R,R)‐enantiomer of the product. The reactant state is stabilized by the simultaneous presence of both substrates bound to their binding sites in the hydrophobic pocket as well as by stacking interactions between them. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Dendronized polymers via Diels–Alder “click” reaction

A modular approach toward the synthesis of polymers containing dendron groups as side chains is developed using the Diels–Alder “click” reaction. For this purpose, a styrene‐based polymer appended with anthracene groups as reactive side chains was synthesized. First through third‐generation polyester dendrons containing furan‐protected maleimide groups at their focal point were synthesized. Facile, reagent‐free, thermal Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the anthracene‐containing polymer and latent‐reactive dendrons leads to quantitative functionalization of the polymer chains to afford dendronized polymers. The efficiency of this functionalization step was monitored using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR and UV–vis spectrometry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 410–416, 2010     

Reactivity of 4‐Phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione and Diethylazocarboxylate in [4+2]‐Cycloaddition and Ene Reactions: Solvent,Temperature, and High‐Pressure Influence on the Reaction Rate

We have studied the solvent, temperature, and pressure influences on the reaction rates of cyclic and acyclic N=N bonds in the Diels–Alder and ene reactions. The transfer from N‐phenylmaleimide ( 9 ) to a structural analogue, 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione ( 2 ), is accompanied by the rate increase in five to six orders of magnitude in the Diels–Alder reactions with cyclopentadiene ( 4 ) and 9,10‐dimethylanthracene ( 5 ), whereas the transfer from dimethyl fumarate ( 10 ) to diethyl azodicarboxylate ( 1 ) increases only in one to two orders of magnitude. The ratio of the reaction rate constants ( 2 + 4 )/( 1 + 4 ) is very large (5.2 × 10⁷) and almost the same (5.3 × 10⁷) as in the ene reactions with tetramethylethylene ( 7 ), ( 2 + 7 )/( 1 + 7 ). It has been observed that the N=N bond in reagent 2 has strong electrophilic, and its N–N moiety in the transition state has nucleophilic properties, which results from the analysis of the solvation enthalpy transfer of reagents, activated complex, and adduct in the Diels–Alder reaction of 2 with anthracene 22 .     

Diastereodivergent Catalysis Using Modularly Designed Organocatalysts: Synthesis of both cis‐ and trans‐Fused Pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans

Both enantiomers of cis‐ and trans‐fused 3,4,4a,8a‐tetrahydro‐2H,5H‐pyrano[2,3‐b]pyran‐7‐carboxylates have been obtained in high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities from the same starting materials using a tandem inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder/oxa‐Michael reaction catalyzed by modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs). Diastereodivergence was achieved in these reactions through the direct control of the stereochemistry of the bridgehead atoms of the fused ring using new MDOs self‐assembled from both enantiomers of proline and cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Arene cis‐Dihydrodiols from 2‐Pyrones

An enantioselective chemical synthesis of arene cis‐dihydrodiols has been realized from 2‐pyrones through sequential ytterbium‐catalyzed asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2‐pyrones and retro‐Diels–Alder extrusion of CO₂. By using this strategy, a series of substituted arene cis‐dihydrodiols can be obtained efficiently with high enantioselectivity (>99 % ee in many cases). Based on this strategy, efficient and concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)‐MK7607 and 1‐epi‐(+)‐MK7607 were accomplished.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Hydrocarbazoles Catalyzed by an Octahedral Chiral‐at‐Rhodium Lewis Acid

A bis‐cyclometalated chiral‐at‐metal rhodium complex catalyzes the Diels–Alder reaction between N‐Boc‐protected 3‐vinylindoles (Boc=tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) and β‐carboxylic ester‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated 2‐acyl imidazoles with good‐to‐excellent regioselectivity (up to 99:1) and excellent diastereoselectivity (>50:1 d.r.) as well as enantioselectivity (92–99 % ee) under optimized conditions. The rhodium catalyst serves as a chiral Lewis acid to activate the 2‐acyl imidazole dienophile by two‐point binding and overrules the preferred regioselectivity of the uncatalyzed reaction.     

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers through the combination of the Diels–Alder reaction and controlled/living radical polymerization techniques

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers (PS)(PtBA)–PEO–(PtBA)(PS) and (PS)(PtBA)–PPO–(PtBA)(PS) [where PS is polystyrene, PtBA is poly(tert‐butyl acrylate), PEO is poly(ethylene oxide), and PPO is poly(propylene oxide)], containing PEO or PPO as a backbone and PS and PtBA as side arms, were prepared via the combination of the Diels–Alder reaction and atom transfer radical and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization routes. Commercially available PEO or PPO containing bismaleimide end groups was reacted with a compound having an anthracene functionality, succinic acid anthracen‐9‐yl methyl ester 3‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyloxy)‐2‐methyl‐2‐[2‐phenyl‐2‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy)ethoxycarbonyl]propyl ester, with a Diels–Alder reaction strategy. The obtained macroinitiator with tertiary bromide and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxy functional end groups was used subsequently in the atom transfer radical polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate and in the nitroxide‐mediated free‐radical polymerization of styrene to produce heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers with moderately low molecular weight distributions (<1.31). The polymers were characterized with ¹H NMR, ultraviolet, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3947–3957, 2006     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Neomarinone

The first total synthesis of (+)‐neomarinone has been achieved by following a concise and convergent route using methyl (R)‐lactate and (R)‐3‐methylcyclohexanone as chiral building blocks. Key steps of the synthesis are the stereocontrolled formation of the two quaternary stereocenters by diastereoselective 1,4‐conjugate addition and enolate alkylation reactions, and the construction of the furanonaphthoquinone skeleton by regioselective Diels–Alder reaction between a 1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyloxy)‐1,3‐diene and a bromoquinone. The synthesis proves the relative and absolute stereochemistry of natural neomarinone.     

Diels‐alder click reaction for the preparation of polycarbonate block copolymers

The Diels‐Alder reaction as a click reaction strategy is applied to the preparation of well‐defined polycarbonate (PC)‐block copolymers. A well‐defined α‐anthracene‐terminated polycarbonate (PC‐anthracene) is prepared using 9‐anthracene methanol as an initiator in the ring opening polymerization of benzyl 5‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxane‐5‐carboxylate in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature for 5 h. Next, a well‐defined α‐furan protected maleimide‐terminated‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG₁₁‐MI or PEG₃₇‐MI), ‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA₂₆‐MI), and ‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL₂₇‐MI) were clicked with the PC‐anthracene at reflux temperature of toluene to yield their corresponding PC‐based block copolymers (PC‐b‐PEG, PC‐b‐PMMA, and PC‐b‐PCL). The homopolymer precursors and their block copolymers were characterized by using the GPC, NMR and UV analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis of tadpole polymers via triple click reactions: Copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition,diels–alder,and nitroxide radical coupling reactions

We designed a trifunctional initiator ( 3 ) containing anthracene, bromide, and OH functionalities and subsequently used as an initiator in atom transfer radical Polymerization (ATRP) of styrene to yield linear polystyrene (PS) with α‐anthracene, OH, and ω‐bromide terminal groups, of which bromide is later transformed into azide to result in the linear anthracene‐, OH‐, and azide‐terminated PS (l‐α‐anthracene‐OH‐ω‐azide‐PS). The copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction between l‐α‐anthracene‐OH‐ω‐azide‐PS and α‐furan‐protected‐maleimide‐ω‐alkyne linkage, 4 afforded the linear anthracene‐, OH‐, and maleimide‐terminated PS. The cyclization via intramolecular Diels–Alder click reaction of this linear PS and the subsequent conversion of the hydroxyl into bromide resulted in the cyclic PS with one bromide located on the ring, (c‐PS)‐Br. Finally, the c‐PS‐Br was clicked with either well‐defined tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) yielding the tadpole polymer, (c‐PS)‐b‐PEG or (c‐PS)‐b‐PCL. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Access to 1‐Phospha‐2‐azanorbornenes by Phospha‐aza‐Diels–Alder Reactions

The unprecedented phospha‐aza‐Diels–Alder reaction between an activated electron‐poor imine and 2H‐phospholes yields 1‐phospha‐2‐azanorbornenes in a highly chemoselective and moderately diastereoselective reaction. The intermediate 2H‐phospholes, which act as dienes, are formed in situ from the corresponding 1H‐phospholes. Theoretical calculations confirm that the phospha‐aza‐Diels–Alder reaction is of normal electron demand. The reactive P?N bond in 1‐phospha‐2‐azanorbornenes can be cleaved by nucleophiles leading to the formation of 2,3‐dihydrophospholes.