What is the Diels–Alder reaction?
Q: What is the Diels–Alder reaction?
A: The Diels–Alder reaction (DA) is a chemical reaction between organic compounds which causes them to form a new six-sided compound called a cyclohexene.
Q: Who discovered the DA reaction?
A: The DA reaction was discovered by Otto Diels and Kurt Alder in 1928.
Q: What did they receive for their work on this reaction?
A: In 1950, they were given the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on this reaction.
Q: What are cyclohexenes used for?
A: Cyclohexenes are used to make complex organic molecules. One of the first uses of the DA reaction was to make insecticides.
Q: How does a DA reaction create a hexagonal ring-shaped compound?
A: A compound with two double bonds which are one carbon atom apart from each other is joined to another compound with at least one double bond, creating a hexagonal ring-shaped compound.
Q: Are some DA reactions reversible?
A: Yes, some of the DA reactions are reversible and the breaking up of the cyclic system during this process is called retro-Diels–Alder.
Q: What catalysts can be used to speed up the DA Reaction?
A: Lewis acids such as AlCl3 and ZnCl2 can act as catalysts to speed up the DA Reaction.
