The intramolecular Diels–Alder
reactions of cycloalkenones
and terminal dienes occur with high endo stereoselectivity, both thermally
and under Lewis-acidic conditions. Through computations, we show that
steric repulsion and tether conformation govern the selectivity of
the reaction, and incorporation of either BF3 or α-halogenation
increases the rate of cycloaddition. With a longer tether, isomerization
from a terminal diene to the more stable internal diene results in
a more facile cycloaddition.