The
reaction pathway of silyloxypyrone-based (5 + 2)
cycloadditions
was determined to be extremely dependent on the nature of the dipolarophile.
Neutral alkenes were the least reactive, whereas both electron-deficient
and electron-rich dipolarophiles were more reactive, thus providing
evidence for ambident oxidopyrylium intermediates. Qualitative rate
studies, Hammett linear free energy relationships, and theoretical
calculations combined to provide evidence for a spectrum of reactivity
that passes through the borderlands of concerted and stepwise.