Solvent-Free Diels-Alder Reaction in a Closed Batch System

Solvent-free Diels-Alder reactions were carried out by heating a mixture of a volatile diene, such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, or 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, and a dienophile, such as methyl vinyl ketone, methyl acrylate, or maleic anhydride, in a closed batch reactor. High yields of Diels-Alder products were obtained without using solvents and catalysts within a short reaction time in most of the reactions. In particular, several reactions of dienophiles with 1,3-butadiene, which is known as a diene with low reactivity because of its gaseous form, also proceeded with high yields of Diels-Alder products in the closed batch reactor under conditions pressured by the reactant vapor. Solvent-free reactions provided high yields compared to reactions in solvent since the reaction heat directly resulted in increasing the reaction temperature and pressure. Energy in the exothermic reaction was used effectively in the closed batch system under solvent-free conditions.