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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Microwave-assisted Intramolecular Dehydrogenative Diels-Alder Reactions for the Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthalenes/Solvatochromic Dyes
Published on: April 1, 2013
Torsional Control of Epoxidation Stereoselectivity in 1,2-Dihydronaphthalenes. Transition State Modeling with
Melissa J. Lucero1, K. N. Houk
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569.
Abstract:
Recently, highly diastereoselective epoxidations of chiral 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes were reported. Crystallographic characterization of the major product indicated that the selectivity cannot be attributed to long-range steric effects. We examined this system through ab initio and semiempirical quantum mechanical modeling. Corroborating experimental data, our investigations explain the apparent irrelevance of direct interactions with substituents and address the insensitivity of the stereoselectivity to oxidant structure. Furthermore, extension of this model to other related epoxidation reactions indicates that pi-facial discrimination may be interpreted as a result of a preference for a staggered asynchronous transition state, obtainable only through axial attack.
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