The reactions of (E)-1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene
(1) and 1,1-dimethoxy-1,3-butadiene (2) with a
series of
dienophiles of increasing electrophilicity are described.
Stereochemical studies reveal that the cycloadditions of
1
are concerted processes, even for the most electron-deficient olefins
dimethyl dicyanofumarate and dimethyl
dicyanomaleate. 1,1-Dimethoxy-1,3-butadiene reacts under our
conditions (dilute solutions and temperatures ≤60
°C) only with those dienophiles which can give zwitterions out of the
antiperiplanar conformation of the diene.
Zwitterionic intermediates can be trapped by methanol. In the
case of tetracyanoethene the kinetics of decay of an
intermediate, interpreted as the zwitterion, can be followed by stopped
flow techniques: E
a = 14.8 ± 0.2
kcal
mol-1, log A = 11.9 ± 0.1,
ΔH
⧧ = 10.8 ± 0.1 kcal
mol-1, ΔS
⧧ =
−6.2 ± 0.1 cal mol-1
K-1, and ΔG
⧧ =
11.40 ±
0.03 kcal mol-1.