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Experiment 13: The Diels-Alder Reaction of a Conjugated Diene in
Eucalyptus Oil
The Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most powerful tools used in the preparation of important organic molecules. When two carbon-carbon double bonds are positioned next to one another, a conjugated diene is formed. A non-conjugated diene is a molecule that has two olefins which are not next to each other. Conjugated dienes undergo a cycloaddition reaction with certain double bonds to afford cyclohexenes and related compounds. This reaction is named for Otto Diels and Kurt Alder, who received the 1950 Nobel prize for discovering this useful transformation. The simplest Diels-Alder reaction is between 1,3-butadiene and ethylene:
The mechanism of the reaction begins with the diene assuming the higher energy, but more reactive, cis conformation. As the diene and the dienophile (the mono-ene component) approach each other, the two terminal carbons of the diene meet the two carbons of the dienophile:
The Diels-Alder reaction is facilitated by the presence of electron donating groups on the diene and by the presence of electron withdrawing groups on the dienophile. For instance, maleic anhydride is a very good dienophile because it contains two highly electron withdrawing carbonyl groups. In fact, maleic anhydride was one of the original dienophiles that Diels and Alder used in their studies. It will react with a variety of dienes to afford the corresponding cyclohexene system. The reaction of maleic anhydride and cyclohexadiene is shown as an example:
O
O
O
O
O
O
H
H
This example illustrates what is known as the Endo Rule. The addition of maleic anhydride to a diene yields entirely the endo product in which the bulkier parts of the dienophile are closer to the carbon-carbon double bond.
H
H
O
O
O
O
H
H
O
O
ENDO (favored) EXO (disfavored)
Dienes and trienes occur in the essential oils of a number of plants and contribute to their flavors and aromas. You will separate the conjugated diene that is present in eucalyptus oil by reacting it with maleic anhydride. The unknown diene will be one of the four conjugated dienes shown below:
In order to determine the amount of maleic anhydride that will be necessary to react with all of the conjugated diene present, you will estimate the percentage of diene found in eucalyptus oil using the gas chromatogram on Fig. 1, Expt. 13. Since both maleic anhydride and the product of the Diels-Alder reaction can be hydrolyzed by water, it is important to use dry glassware and to exclude moisture during the reaction and the work- up.
The melting point of the product will reveal the identity of the conjugated diene present in the oil. In addition, you will characterize the product by obtaining an infrared spectrum. Read pp 311-344 in LTOC , and study Figure 21.14 on p. 326 and Table 21. on p. 328. You will obtain a spectrum of your solid product as a cast-film, so read page 321 carefully. You will compare your spectrum to that of maleic anhydride itself, shown on Fig. 2, Expt. 13.
Pre-lab Assignment (you must complete the following calculation and hand it to your TA before beginning the experiment)
Estimate the mass of the unknown diene present in 2.5 g of eucalyptus oil using the GC trace that is found on Fig. 1, Expt. 13. Assume that the unknown conjugated diene corresponds to the largest peak on the chromatogram and that the peak areas are
CH 3 C
CH 3
CHCH 2 CH (^2) CCH
CH 2
CH 3 C
CH 2
CHCH
CH 3
CHC
CH 3
CHCH (^3)
α-phellandrene M.P. Diels-Alder product: 126-127°
α-terpinene M.P. Diels-Alder product: 60-61°
β-myrcene M.P. Diels-Alder product: 33-34°
allo -ocimene M.P. Diels-Alder product: 83-84°
The frequency of the absorption bands in infrared spectra can be correlated with the energies required to stretch and bend the covalent bonds in a molecule. When a bond stretches, the distance between the two atoms increases and decreases. When a bond bends, the positions of atoms change relative to the bond axis. Today, you will use the Spartan program to observe the bending and stretching of the bonds in maleic anhydride and correlate these movements with their frequencies. (Review Chapter 8 in LTOC .)
Instructions for finding the vibrational frequencies for maleic anhydride
Before building a molecule, close any previously built molecules by pulling down the File menu and choosing Close followed by Do Not Save.
- Pull down the File menu and select New Build. The Organic Model Kit will appear.
- Click on the sp^2 hybridized carbon.
- Click in the middle of the Spartan screen. The atom should appear. Place the cursor near the atom and move to rotate so you can see the double bond.
- To continue to build the molecule, click at the end of the double bond, and a new carbon should appear.
- Now click on one of the single bonds and yet another sp^2 hybridized carbon will appear.
- Click on the single bond of the other carbon to make another sp^2 hybridized carbon.
- In the atom grid, click on the sp^2 hybridized oxygen.
- Click at the end of one of the carbon double bonds.
- Repeat steps 7 and 8 so the other terminal carbon has a double bonded oxygen attached to it.
- In the atom grid, click on the sp^3 hybridized oxygen.
- Click on the single bond of one of the terminal carbons.
- Under the menu Build , choose Make bond ,
- Click on the yellow bond of the sp^3 oxygen and then click on the yellow bond of the terminal carbon. A bond should appear.
- Under the Build menu, choose Minimize.
- Under the Build menu, choose View.
- Under the Setup menu, choose Calculations… In the dialog box that appears, select Equilibrium Geometry with Hartree-Fock/3-21G. The Total Charge should be Neutral. Click to put a check in the box next to the words Infrared Spectra. Click on Submit.
- A Save dialog box appears. If necessary, give the molecule a name, then click on Save.
- A dialog box will tell you that the calculation has begun. Click on OK.
- It may take a few minutes for the calculation to be completed, depending on the complexity of the molecule. A dialog box will appear telling you when the calculation is finished. Do not continue on to the next step until this box has appeared!
- When the calculation is complete, click on OK.
- Under the Display menu, select Spectra. Click on the green plus sign (+). In the window that appears, click on IR Calculated. Click on the (i) in a brown circle (at the left of the screen). A box appears that lists several vibrational frequencies for maleic anhydride. Place a check mark in a box next to a frequency. You can do this with all the frequencies individually and watch the bonds vibrate. You may want to rotate or enlarge the molecule (enlarge using the scroll wheel).
- You should record any frequencies associated with the carbon-oxygen double bonds.
Name _______________________________ Date ____________________________
T. A. _______________________________ Lab period ________________________
Results and Calculations (to be handed in two days after the next lab period along
with the discussion)
Calculate the percent yield of the Diels-Alder product based on the mass of maleic anhydride used.
Melting range for the Diels-Alder product _____________________________________
Attach your IR spectrum.
Identity of the diene found in eucalyptus oil ___________________________________
