High Pressure Organic Chemistry. III. Diels-Alder Reaction of Thiophene with Maleic Anhydride

Abstract
The Diels-Alder reaction of thiophene with maleic anhydride has been investigated under conditions of very high pressure. The Diels-Alder adduct was obtained in dicbloromethane at 100 °C and 15 kbar; above a pressure of 15 kbar the reaction was highly accelerated. From the spectral data and chemical evidence it has been suggested that the adduct has the exo-configuration. The reactions in various solvents and with other dienophiles have also been examined.