Question

Question: Draw the product (A) of the following Diels-Alder reaction. A was a key intermediate in the synthesis of the addicting pain reliever morphine, the chapter-opening molecule.

Short answer

Answer

Step-by-step solution

Diels-Alder reaction

The Diels-Alder reaction is a syn addition concerning the diene and the dienophile.

The stereochemistry of the diene and dienophile are preserved during the reaction. The Diels-Alder reaction is stereospecific.

Mechanism of Diels-Alder reaction

The mechanism of the Diels-Alder reaction follows a concerted pathway because all the bond rupture and bond making occur simultaneously.

Find A

The Diels-Alder reaction required for the formation of the morphine can be represented in the following manner:

From this reaction, the compound A formed is shown below:

Structure of A