A theoretical investigation on the regioselectivity of the intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-vinyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives

The present study reports a systematic computational analysis of the two possible pathways, fused and bridged, for an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder (IMHDA) and an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (IMDCA) of 2-vinyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives. The potential energy surface analysis for both reactions is in agreement with experimental observations. The activation energies associated with the two regioisomeric channels in IMHDA reaction show that the bridged product is favored, although in IMDCA, the most stable TS results the fused product. The global electronic properties of fragments within each molecule were studied to discuss the reactivity patterns and charge transfer direction in the intramolecular processes. The asynchronicity of the bond formation and aromaticity of the optimized TSs in the Diels-Alder reaction as well as cycloaddition reaction were evaluated. Finally, 1H NMR chemical shifts of the possible regioisomers have been calculated using the GIAO method which of the most stable products are in agreement with the experimental data in the both reaction