Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder Additions of 2-Substituted 5,6 Dimethylidenenorbornanes and-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The cycloadditions of methyl propynoate and methyl vinyl ketone to 5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornanone ( 6 ) are para′-regioselective

1 “Para” (p) designs in this paper the 4, 9-disubstituted tricclo6.2.1.0^{2, 7}] undecane- and 4, 9-disubsstituted tricycle6.2.20^2,7] dodecane derivatives, “meta” (m) design the corresponding 4, 10-disubstituted compounds.

. A smaller para -regioselectivity is observed for the addition of methyl propynoate to 5,6-dimethylidene-2bicyclo2.2.2]octanone ( 10 ). No regioselectivity is observed with 5,6-dimethylidene-2exo-norbornyl alcohol ( 3 ), acetate ( 5 ) and 5,6-dimethylidene-2exo-bicyclo2.2.2]octanol ( 9 ). PMO arguments based on the shape of the HOMO's and subHOMO's of the dienes allow to rationalize these observations. Unpredictable para′- or ‘meta’regioselectivities are found for the Diels,-Alder additions of 5,6-dimethylidene-2endo-norbornyl alcohol ( 2 ), acetate ( 4 ) and 5,6-dimethylidene-2endo-bicyclo2.2.2]octanol ( 8 ). The carbonyl group of β,γ unsaturated ketones such as 6 and 10 can act as an electron donating homoconjugated substituent. The n(CO) ? σC(1), C(2)] ? πC(5), C(6)] hyperconjugative interaction can override the usual electron-withdrawing effect of this function.