Further investigations into the preparation and [4+2] cycloadditionreactions of vinyl norcaradiene derivatives

Norcaradiene derivatives derived from the copper-catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions of 2-(5-vinyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene) diazomethyl ketones have been prepared and submitted to Diels-Alder reactions with a range of dienophiles, including methyl acrylate, methyl 2-chloroacrylate, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride. The cycloaddition reactions gave better yields and were more selective when the vinyl norcaradienes were based on 8-methoxynaphthyl diazoketones.