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Pericyclic Reactions Examples

Cycloaddition Reactions

An assortment of thermal and photochemical cycloaddition reactions are shown here. The photochemical reactions are noted by a over the arrow. The reader should inspect each reaction to determine whether it has a 4n or a 4n+2 electron transition state, and deduce the expected stereochemistry. By clicking on the diagram this information will be displayed.

Cycloaddition reaction examples table: 11 thermal and photochemical [2+2] and [4+2] cycloadditions to classify as 4n or 4n+2

Electrocyclic Reactions

An assortment of thermal and photochemical electrocyclic reactions are shown here. The photochemical reactions are noted by a over the arrow. The reader should inspect each reaction to determine whether it has a 4n or a 4n+2 electron transition state, and deduce the expected stereochemistry. By clicking on the diagram this information will be displayed.

Electrocyclic reaction examples table: ring openings and closings of polyenes, thermal and photochemical, to classify as 4n or 4n+2

Sigmatropic Reactions

An assortment of thermal sigmatropic reactions are shown here. The reader should inspect each reaction to determine whether it has a 4n or a 4n+2 electron transition state, and deduce the expected stereochemistry. By clicking on the diagram this information will be displayed.

Sigmatropic rearrangement examples table: hydride, alkyl, Cope and Claisen shifts to classify as 4n or 4n+2 transition states

Combinations of Pericyclic Reactions

A collection of multistage pericyclic transformations are presented here. Photochemical reactions are noted by a over the arrow. The reader should dissect each overall reaction into its component steps, and classify each as having a 4n or a 4n+2 electron transition state. By clicking on the diagram this information will be displayed.

Multistep pericyclic reaction examples table to dissect into electrocyclic, cycloaddition and sigmatropic steps and rationalize