Kinetics,mechanism, and stereochemistry of Diels-Alder reactions of CN-substituted ethenes with cyclohexa-1, 3-diene in the gas phase

The kinetics of the Diels-Alder additions of CH₂ = CHCN, CH₂ = C(CH₃) CN, and cis- and trans-CH₃CH = CHCN to cyclohexa-1, 3-diene have been studied in the gas phase. The stereochemistry of these reactions is discussed. In terms of a biradical mechanism, a minimum value of 4.1 ± 0.8 kcal mol^?1 for the stabilizing effect of a CN group vis-à-vis a methyl group is shown to fit the experimental activation energies.