Question

What are the required characteristic features of diene and dienophile that is favorable for a Diels-Alder reaction?

Answer 1

Diene have two double bond that is four pi electrons. Dienes are electron dense. With increasing the + R or + I group in diene, the reaction rate increases.

Dienophile have minimum one double bond that is two pi electrons. With increasing the -I or -R group in dienophile the reaction rate increases.

Diene and dienophile react in six membered cyclic transition state.

Diels-Alder reaction is

Diene + dienophile + heat .................> Diels-Alder cyclic product.