6533b826fe1ef96bd1284781

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Understanding the mechanism of non-polar diels-alder reactions. A comparative elf analysis of concerted and stepwise diradical mechanisms

Luis R. DomingoEduardo ChamorroPatricia Pérez

subject

Pericyclic reactionEthyleneCyclopentadieneDieneDiradicalConcerted reactionStereochemistryOrganic Chemistryrespiratory systemBiochemistryElectron localization functionStyrenechemistry.chemical_compoundchemistryPhysical and Theoretical Chemistry

description

The electron-reorganization along the concerted and stepwise pathways associated with the non-polar Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene (Cp, 1) and ethylene (2) has been studied using the topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. ELF results for the concerted mechanism stresses that the electron-reorganization demanded on the diene and ethylene reagents to reach two pseudo-diradical structures is responsible for the high activation energy. A comparative ELF analysis of some relevant points of the non-polar Diels-Alder reaction between Cp and styrene (10) suggests that these concerted mechanisms do not have a pericyclic electron-reorganization.

10.1039/c0ob00563k