Diels-Alder reaction between butadiene and maleic anhydride

Written by J.A Dobado | Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Objective

The objective of this practice is the realization of a Diels-Alder cycloaddition between a diene and an alkene to obtain a highly functionalized cyclohexene derivative.

Background

Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most remarkable chemical reactions discovered in the 20^th century. The authors of this reaction won the Nobel Prize in 1950. It is a powerful tool for constructing 6-membered rings and has been used for the synthesis of many complex molecules.

A [4+2] cycloaddition is usually carried out at moderate to high temperatures and even under pressure. It is a stereospecific reaction with respect to both the diene and the dienophile. In this experiment, two examples of Diels-Alder reactions are described, in the first case the diene is prepared in situ from 3-sulfolene, and in the second case a functionalized diene is used.

Experimental procedure

[4+2] Cycloaddition between maleic anhydride and buta-1,3-diene

In a 100 ml round flask 10 g of 3-sulfolene (buta-1,3-diene sulfone) and 5 g of maleic anhydride powder are introduced. Subsequently, 10 ml of xylene are added and the flask is refluxed with magnetic stirring for 45 min. Since SO₂ is released during the reaction, a gas trap containing a 5 % NaOH solution is placed at the end of the condenser.

Cool the solution to room temperature and add 50 ml of toluene and activated carbon to decolorize the solution. Filter by gravity. To the filtrate add 25-30 ml of hexane, heat to 80 ºC. Cool the solution first to room temperature and then in an ice bath. Filter the formed crystals under vacuum.

[4+2] Cycloaddition between maleic anhydride and E,E-2,4-hexadien-1-ol

A mixture of 0.40 g maleic anhydride and 0.40 g E,E-2,4-hexadien-1-ol in 5 ml toluene is heated to reflux for 5 min. The solution is allowed to cool slowly to room temperature, whereupon a solid will begin to appear on the walls of the flask.

To assure the total precipitation of the product, (3aR,4S,5S,7aR)-5-methyl-3-oxo-1,3,3a,4,5,7a-hexahydro-2-benzofuran-4-carboxylic acid, we cool in an ice bath for 10 min. It is filtered under vacuum and dried in the air. It can be recrystallized from toluene. (melting point 156-159 ºC).

Physico-chemical properties

This table collects data for the molecular weight (M_w), melting point (M.p.) boiling point (B.p.) and density of the reactives and compounds used in this laboratory experiment.

Name	Mw (g/mol)	M.p. (ºC)	B.p. (ºC)	Density (g/ml)
Sodium sulfite	126.04	-	-	2.630
Buta-1,3-diene	54.09	-109	4.5	0.62
p-Xylene	106.17	13.0	138.4	0.860
3-Sulfolene	118.15	64-67	-	-
cis-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydrophthalic anhydride	150.147	97-103	-	-
2,4-hexadien-1-ol	98.14	27-33	80	0.871
HCl	36.46	-30	>100	1.200
Maleic anhydride	98.06	51-56	200	1.480
Hexane	86.18	-95	69	0.659
NaOH	40.00	318	1,390	2.130
SO2	64.06	-73	-10	-
Toluene	92.14	-93	110.6	0.867

GHS pictograms

Hazard pictograms form part of the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and are collected in the followinf Table for the chemical compounds used in this experiment.

Name	GHS
Sodium sulfite	Non-hazardous
Buta-1,3-diene
p-Xylene
3-Sulfolene
cis-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydrophthalic anhydride
2,4-hexadien-1-ol
HCl
Maleic anhydride
Hexane
NaOH
SO2
Toluene

International Chemical Identifier

The IUPAC InChI key identifiers for the main compounds used in this experiment are provided to facilitate the nomenclature and formulation of chemical compounds and the search for information on the Internet for these compounds.

Sodium sulfite	GEHJYWRUCIMESM-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Buta-1,3-diene	KAKZBPTYRLMSJV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
p-Xylene	URLKBWYHVLBVBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
3-Sulfolene	MBDNRNMVTZADMQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
cis-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydrophthalic anhydride	KMOUUZVZFBCRAM-OLQVQODUSA-N
2,4-hexadien-1-ol	MEIRRNXMZYDVDW-MQQKCMAXSA-N
HCl	VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Maleic anhydride	FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Hexane	VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
NaOH	HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M
SO2	RAHZWNYVWXNFOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Toluene	YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N

References

• Isac-García, J.; Dobado, J. A.; Calvo-Flores, F. G.; and Martínez-García, H. (2015). Experimental Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual. Elsevier Science & Technology. ISBN: 978-0-12-803893-2
• T. E. Sample and L. F. Hatch, 3-Sulfolene: a butadiene source for a Diels-Alder synthesis: an undergraduate laboratory experiment, Journal of Chemical Education 45 (1968), no. 1, 55, DOI: 10.1021/ed045p55

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