ABSTRACT
The Diels-Alder reaction is a [42]cycloaddition in which a diene (four-component) reacts with a dienophile (two-component) to provide a six-membered ring (Fig. 1). Six new stereocenters are formed in a single reaction step. Because the conformations of the double bonds are usually fully retained, the reaction is stereospecific and consequently the absolute configuration of the two newly formed asymmetric centers can be controlled efficiently. The Diels-Alder reaction is of great value in organic synthesis and is a key step in the construction of compounds containing six-membered rings [1]. A historic account of this important conversion has been published by Berson [2].
