Electro-organic reactions. Part 46. Diels-Alder trapping of o-quinodimethane generated by redox-mediated cathodic reduction of α,α′-dibromo-o-xylene in the presence of hindered dienophiles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(96)00345-6

Hindered, electron-deficient alkenes 5-11 have been prepared, including analogues of maleic anhydride, N-phenylmaleimide and benzoquinone. Cyclic voltammetry showed that most of these compounds can undergo reduction to form relatively persistent radical-a