Structural studies on cycloadducts of furan, 2-methoxyfuran, and 5-trimethylsilylcyclopentadiene with maleic anhydride and N-methylmaleimide.

The early stages of the retro-Diels-Alder reaction are clearly apparent in the structures of the cycloadducts formed between furan or 5-trimethylsilylcyclopentadiene with maleic anhydride and N-methylmaleimide. The degree of lengthening of the C-C bonds that break in this reaction is clearly related to the known reactivity of these cycloadducts toward this reaction. In the structures of the cycloadducts 21 and 22 derived from 2-methoxyfuran, the early stages of an alternative fragmentation reaction are apparent, consistent with the reactivity of these compounds in solution.