Diels–Alder Reaction: The [4+2] Cycloaddition Students Google at 2 AM
Master the Diels–Alder reaction with an interactive pericyclic scrubber: s‑cis diene requirement, endo rule, regioselectivity, and stereospecificity. Includes practice problems.
Reactants: Conjugated diene + dienophile (alkene/alkyne, often with EWG)
Mechanism: Concerted pericyclic (single step)
Key requirement: Diene must adopt s‑cis conformation
Stereochemistry: Stereospecific (cis on dienophile stays cis in product)
Common selectivity: Endo preference (rule of thumb)