Why is the Diels-Alder reaction classified as a 4+2 cycloaddition?

Question

Ryan Andrews · Accepted Answer

Because it generates a new ring ("cycloaddition") and it involves the participation of atoms that span four bonds of the conjugated diene and two bonds of the dienophile.

The mechanism is as follows:

where the conjugated diene must be s-cis for a reaction to occur. Otherwise, carbons 1 and 4 on the diene are too far apart to react in a concerted fashion. (Hence, trans-1,3-butadiene would not react.)
And they're pretty much all like that (with heat), when the reactants are symmetrical or don't have any electron-withdrawing/donating groups.

You can see that with carbons 1 and 4 on the conjugated diene and carbons 1 and 2 on the dienophile, as well as the generation of a new ring, we do indeed have what constitutes a [4+2]-cycloaddition.

You might want to refer to this answer for more information on the Diels-Alder reaction.

Delilah Anderson · Answer

undefined The Diels-Alder reaction is classified as a 4+2 cycloaddition because it involves the formation of a new six-membered ring system by the concerted addition of four π electrons from a conjugated diene and two π electrons from a dienophile, resulting in the formation of two new carbon-carbon bonds.