Strained Allenes as Dienophiles in the Diels-Alder Reaction: An Experimental and Computational Study.

Strained allenes, such as 1,2-cyclohexadiene, undergo facile Diels-Alder reactions with otherwise unreactive dienes. Substituted cyclohexa-1,2-dienes add to furan via a Diels-Alder reaction, forming only two of four possible regioisomers and stereoisomers. Alkyl cyclohexa-1,2-diene carboxylates yield the nonconjugated endo adduct as the major product.