A DFT study of the pericyclic/pseudopericyclic character of cycloaddition reactions of ethylene and formaldehyde to buta-1,3-dien-1-one and derivatives

Cycloaddition reactions of ethylene and formaldehyde to buta-1,3-dien-1-one and derivatives were studied by performing a density functional theory study with the 6-31+G* basis set. Reactants, products, and transition states for each reaction were localized, and the path connecting reactants and products was also obtained. Magnetic properties were evaluated along the reaction path to elucidate the characteristics of the reactions studied. Also, a natural bond orbital analysis was performed to study the orbital interactions in the transition states. Calculations indicate that all reactions are pericyclic except three cases, which are pseudopericyclic reactions. In the latter, transition states are almost planar, and magnetic properties do not reveal aromatization enhancement in their transition states. Also, though the participation of lone pairs diminish the pericyclic character of the reactions, sometimes this participation is not enough to generate a change to a pseudopericyclic path. Overall, magnetic properties reveal as a good criterion to elucidate the characteristics of the reactions studied, though a combined application of several criteria is recommended.