Diels–Alder reaction template

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Butadiene and ethene form cyclohexene; the two new σ bonds are marked.

Mechanism step by step

A concerted [4+2] cycloaddition: three arrows, one step

Cycloaddition – Six electrons move round the ring at once

Key points

Concerted and suprafacial: the stereochemistry of both partners is kept.
The diene must be able to adopt the s-cis shape.
Electron-poor dienophiles (C=C–C=O) react fastest.
Endo products are favoured (secondary orbital overlap).

Drawn with 24 atoms, 5 arrows, 9 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Diels–Alder reaction template free?

You can preview the Diels–Alder reaction template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.

Can I edit the Diels–Alder reaction template?

Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.

Is the chemistry checked?

Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.

Which name reactions are included?

Over seventy, covering the reactions most often asked in school-leaving exams (A-level, IB, CBSE, JEE and NEET) and first-year university courses, including condensations, rearrangements, oxidations, reductions and aromatic substitutions.