The Diels-Alder reaction is essentially a cycloaddition reaction in which an alkene adds to a 1,3-diene to form a 6-membered ring. The substituted ethane in the reaction is normally referred to as the dienophile. This reaction takes place in one step, where new carbon-carbon single and double bonds form simultaneously. A reaction that takes place in one step, such as this reaction, is called a concerted reaction. Diels-Alder reactions are stereospecific with respect to the stereochemistry at the original double bond of the dienophile is retained in the product, and the orientation of the starting materials. It is a way to build six-membered rings from combining an electron-poor alkene with an electron-rich diene, which forms a sigma overlap of the pi-orbitals of two unsaturated systems. With some Diels-Alder reactions, a methylene bridge will form. If the substituents are on the same side as the bridge, cis, then it is called an exo-adduct. If the substituents are on the opposite side from the bridge, trans, then it is called an endo-adduct. This reaction is endo selective, meaning that the endo product is the

Some topics in this essay:
Maleic Anhydride, C=O C-H, Introduction Diels-Alder, Diels-Alder Reaction, Hermann Fischer, Undergoing Fischer, Percent Yield, Theoretical Yield, Lit MP, Diagram IR, percent yield, diels-alder reaction, fischer esterification, product formed, diels-alder reactions, carboxylic acid, fischer esterification reaction, theoretical yield, close literature, amount product, esterification reaction, positive charge oxygen, carboxylic acid alcohol, amount product formed, experimental yields molecular,