Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-7-2017

Journal / Book Title

The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Abstract

Nitrofurans undergo intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions with tethered electron-poor dienophiles more rapidly and in higher yield than non-nitrated furans. Computational studies indicate that increased stabilization of a partial positive charge on the nitro-substituted carbon in both transition state and product is the driving force for these reactions. Frontier molecular orbital energy differences indicate a switch from normal to inverse electron demand upon nitration. There does not appear to be a contribution from any differences in aromatic stabilization energy between furans and nitrofurans. Calculations show that the nitrofuran reactions proceed via a highly asynchronous transition state allowing easier bond formation between two sterically hindered carbons.

DOI

10.1021/acs.joc.7b00781

Published Citation

Cowie, T. Y., Veguillas, M., Rae, R. L., Rougé, M., Zurek, J. M., Prentice, A. W., ... & Bebbington, M. W. (2017). Intramolecular Nitrofuran Diels–Alder Reactions: Extremely Substituent-Tolerant Cycloadditions via Asynchronous Transition States. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 82(13), 6656-6670.

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