Question

List the starting materials, solvent, reagent for : bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene- 2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester

Answer 1

We'll have an idea of the reaction if we draw the product:

The ring can be considered as cyclohexadiene ring. We know, from the knowledge of pericyclic reaction- a diene and an alkene gives a cyclohexene as product of Diels-Alder reaction. So, if we use alkyne instead of alkene then we'll get cyclohexadiene as product. So, the retro synthetic approach gives us two starting materials:

So, reagents are:

1. Cyclopentadiene

2. acetylene dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester

Since Diels-Alder reactions demands high temperature so, a high boiling organic solvent like xylene is used as solvent.