“…The mechanistic significance of this observation has been questioned (Huisgen, 1984), however, because the isolated yields of the cycloadducts were rather low. The exclusive formation (Scheme 1) of a single 3-vinylpyrrolidine, (3), in the reaction of this anion with 1,3-dienes, (2) (Kauffmann & Eidenschink, 1971), would be additional evidence for a concerted cycloaddition, but quite recently, [4+3]-cycloaddition and 1,4-addition products [(5) and (6), respectively] were found to be formed in moderate yields when the 1,3-diphenyl-2-azaallyl anion, (1), was combined with 3,3,4,4,5,5-hexamethyl-1,2-bis(methylene)cyclopentane, (4) (Mayr et al, 1993) (Scheme 2). Both reaction partners showed ~4 reactivity resulting in the formation of a seven-membered ring.…”