| Summary: | Significant rate enhancements in the Diels-Alder reaction of alkynes and 2-pyrones bearing a Lewis basic group are observed when a combination of alkynyltrifluoroborates and BF.OEt is used. This process generates functionalized aromatic compounds with complete regiocontrol. The observed rate enhancement was studied by density functional theory methods and appears to originate from coordination of the diene substrate to a mixture of alkynylborane intermediates, followed by a Lewis acidmediated product equilibration step. Evidence for this mechanism is presented, as is the enhanced promotion of the cycloaddition via the use of alternative Lewis acid promoters.
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