Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of acyclic (Z)-substituted 1,3-dienes

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of trienes (E,E,Z)-1a-d, (E,E,Z)-4a-d, and (E,Z,Z)-7a,b are described. Trienes containing enal or enone dienophiles cyclize in excellent yield under mild conditions using substoichiometric amounts of MeAlCl(2), in most cases with high levels of diastereoselectivity. The thermal IMDA reactions of 1a, 4a, and 7a require forcing conditions and proceed in low yield with reversed stereoselectivity in the cases of 1a and 4a.