The Diels-Alder reaction: a mainstay of organic chemistry

The Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most important in Organic Chemistry and plays a role in the synthesis and manufacture of many products including pharmaceutical ingredients (including vitamins and drugs), agrochemicals (including fungicides), flavors, fragrances, and more. The reaction is also found in nature, in the synthesis of natural products.

Background:

**updated February 2025**

*Boger, D. & Weinreb, S. (1987). Hetero Diels-Alder Methodology in Organic Synthesis. Organic Chemistry: A Series of Monographs, volume 47. 366 pages.

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*Briou, B., Améduri, B., & Boutevin, B. (2021). Trends in the Diels–Alder reaction in polymer chemistry. Chemical Society Reviews, 50, 11055-11097.

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*Nicolaou, K. C., Snyder, S. A., Montagnon, T., & Vassilikogiannakis, G. (2002). The Diels-Alder reaction in total synthesis. Angewandte Chemie (International Ed.in English), 41(10), 1668-1698.

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*Ose, T., Watanabe, K., Mie, T., Honma, M., Watanabe, H., Yao, M., . . . Tanaka, I. (2003). Insight into a natural Diels-Alder reaction from the structure of macrophomate synthase. Nature, 422(6928), 185-189.

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For specific examples of the use of the Diels-Alder reaction, search —

Science Primary Literature

Questions? Please let me know —

engelk@grinnell.edu