Reactions of Vinylcyclopropane and Bicyclopropyl Compounds With Maleic Anhydride

Abstract

Vinylcyclopropane and bicyclopropyl C6 compounds are studied as diene precursors in the Diels-Alder reaction. Their rearrangement under different thermal and microwave conditions leads to specific isomeric hexa-, penta- or butadienes, condensed with maleic anhydride as a dienophile. Adduct stereochemistries were compared to those of previously-synthesized model compounds, and are fully characterized with 2D NMR and GC-MS spectroscopies. Some unsaturated terpenes bearing vinylcyclopropane moieties were also condensed, and their adduct structures assigned.