An unusual [4 + 4] cycloadduct from an o-quinodimethane : characterisation and computational studies

Abstract

Trapping of a pyrimidinone-derived o-quinodimethane with tetraphenylcyclopentadienone gives a mixture of the [4 + 2] and formal [4 + 4] adducts. Computational studies show that the latter arises by a sequence of [4 + 2] cycloaddition, homolysis, radical recombination to a spiro-tetrahydrofuran and Claisen rearrangement under the thermolytic conditions.