Dynamics of Diels–Alder reactions involving 2-trialkylsilyloxyfurans

Increasing the size of the silyl group on 2-trialkylsilyloxyfurans reduces the rate of Diels–Alder reactions with maleic acid derivatives. While the exo-adduct resulted from the reaction between 2-silyloxyfurans and maleic anhydride, endo-adducts resulted from the reactions with maleate esters. Analysis of transition state structures for the cycloaddition, calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G∗ level of theory, revealed significant stretch-mode asynchronicity in the forming bonds, with selectivity arising from steric interactions that affect torsional strain about the shorter of the forming bonds.