What is the best dienophile for a Diels Alder reaction?
What is the best dienophile for a Diels Alder reaction? Maleic anhydride is also a very good dienophile, because the electron-withdrawing effect of the carbonyl groups causes the two alkene carbons to be electron-poor, and thus a good target for attack by the pi electrons in the diene. Is cyclopentadiene a dienophile? We already know that cyclopentadiene is a good diene because of its inherent s-cis conformation. In general, Diels-Alder reactions proceed fastest with electron-donating groups on the diene (eg. alkyl groups) and electron-withdrawing groups on the dienophile. What makes a good dienophile? Good dienophiles often bear one or two...