This lab introduces the basics of the Diels–Alder reaction: what it is, how it works, and how the rate can be tailored by adding substituents.
The Diels–Alder reaction is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry in which a diene (a molecule with two conjugated double bonds) reacts with a dienophile (which contains a π-bond) to form a six-membered ring.
In this reaction, three π-bonds are broken, two σ-bonds are formed, and one new π-bond is created.
Let's start by examining the most basic version: C4H6 + C2H4.
This reaction involves only a diene and a dienophile. It is exothermic, as shown in the potential energy diagram below (press the play button to animate the reaction).
To calculate the energies involved in this reaction, we need to know the energy of the reactants, transition state, and product.
Calculation
> Draw 2D
and draw a butadiene molecule, C=C-C=C, by selecting single bond from the menu on the left side of the viewer, then clicking and dragging to create your bonds. Click again on a bond to make it a double-bond. Save your structure.
Save
to exit the 3D editor, rename to butadiene, and repeat this process for ethylene, and cyclohexene (there are many ring structures in the bottom left of the 2D editor).Level of Theory
to AIMNet2, select Optimize
and Frequencies
, and click Submit
(this will submit all structures at once).If any of your structures say that there is an "unexpected imaginary frequency," follow these steps:
Resubmit
(below the 3D viewer)Displaced along a frequency
from the options that pop up, and select any negative frequencyLevel of Theory
to AIMNet2, select Optimize
and Frequencies
, and click Submit
View on Rowan
button on the above reaction, and select "Step 0" (the peak) on the IRC.Copy XYZ
button below the 3D viewer, and copy the coordinates.Calculation
> ⋮
> Paste XYZ
, paste the coordinates into the text box, and click Submit
.Level of Theory
dropdown, select Optimize (TS)
and Frequencies
, and click Submit
.Wait for the workflows to complete (≈2 minutes) and fill out the below table, where C1 and C2 correspond to the atoms in ethylene, and C3, C4, C5, and C6 are in butadiene.
For the energy, find the Electronic Energy (under Overview), and click on Hartree
to switch units to kcal/mol. For bond lengths, select the two atoms you are looking for the distance between, and in the top left of the viewer, a box will appear with the distance between the atoms.
(Note, the energy for the reactants is the combined energy of the two molecules)
Species | Energy (kcal/mol) | C1–C2 (Å) | C2–C3 (Å) | C3–C4 (Å) | C4–C5 (Å) | C5–C6 (Å) | C6–C1 (Å) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reactants | – | – | |||||
Transition State | |||||||
Products |
What happens to the energy as we go from reactants to transition state to products? Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? How do you know?
Draw an arrow in each column indicating whether the bond length increases or decreases as the reaction proceeds from reactants to products. How do the bond-lengths change over the course of the reaction, and what do you think is happening?
To find the activation energy of a reaction, you must subtract the energy of the reactants from the energy of the transition state. What is the activation energy of the basic Diels–Alder reaction?
To visualize the change in bond lengths, you can submit the transition state calculation as an IRC:
Resubmit
(below the 3D viewer) > Current structure
> Use this Selection
, and select Resubmit as intrinsic reaction coordinate
.Level of Theory
dropdown, and click Submit
.Resubmit
(below the 3D viewer) > Current structure
> Use this Selection
, and select Resubmit as Calculation
.Periodic Table
button), and save when you are done (make sure not to disturb the rest of the structure).Level of Theory
is set to AIMNet2 and that Optimize
and Frequencies
are selected, and click Submit
.Optimize (TS)
for the transition state).(Note, the energy of the reactants is that of ethylene and the fluoro-substituted butadiene)
Species | Energy (kcal/mol) | C1–C2 (Å) | C2–C3 (Å) | C3–C4 (Å) | C4–C5 (Å) | C5–C6 (Å) | C6–C1 (Å) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reactants | – | – | |||||
Transition State | |||||||
Products |
What happens to the energy as we go from reactants to transition state to products? Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? How do you know?
What is the activation energy, and how does this compare to the activation energy of the original Diels–Alder reaction? What does that imply about the relative reaction rate?
The fluoro group is an electron-withdrawing group. How do you predict the rate would change if a different electron-withdrawing group were used on the diene?
Based on your understanding, what would you expect if an electron-donating group were added to the diene? What if it were added to the dienophile?
Test your prediction: repeat the process above, but add a methyl group (CH3) to the dienophile. What did you observe? Did the reaction proceed faster or slower than the version without the methyl group?
Species | Activation Energy (kcal/mol) |
---|---|
Base reaction | |
Fluoro reaction | |
Methyl reaction |
Do the bonding patterns in the products change when substituents are added? Do the added groups shift their bonding, or do they remain attached to the same atoms?
Does the location of the electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on the diene/dienophile affect the results? Try changing the location of one of the above r-groups and see what happens.
R-group: ______________
Species | Location 1 Energy (kcal/mol) | Location 2 Energy (kcal/mol) |
---|---|---|
Reactants | ||
Transition State | ||
Products | ||
Activation Energy |
Based on the bonding requirements of the Diels–Alder reaction, could ethyne serve as a dienophile? Why or why not? After making your predictions, test it out by following these steps, then write down your findings.
Remove H
button to remove a hydrogen from each carbon in the dienophileLevel of Theory
dropdown, select Optimize (TS)
and Frequencies
, and click Submit
.Resubmit
(below the 3D viewer) > Current structure
> Use this Selection
, and select Resubmit as intrinsic reaction coordinate
.Level of Theory
dropdown, and click Submit
.How does adding an electron-donating group to the dienophile affect the rate of reaction?
How does adding an electron-withdrawing group to the diene affect the rate of reaction?
What other ways could the rate of a Diels–Alder reaction be changed?
What other factors influence whether a Diels–Alder reaction will proceed?