Development and Applications of Double Diels-Alder Reaction in Organic Synthesis

The class of Double Diels-Alder (DDA) reactions leading the targets concisely where numerous synthetic pursuits have been rewarded with conceptually novel and streamlined methods. After the tremendous development and discoveries in various Diels-Alder reactions including its key role applications in many natural products syntheses, the DDA reaction is considered as a growing branch of Diels-Alder reaction where two consecutive [4+2] cycloadditions trigger the streamlined construction of polycyclic and macrocyclic architectures. In light of the ever-increasing importance of DDA reactions in chemical sciences, we review the comprehensive studies and recent advances in DDA reactions in organic synthesis. This review summarizes key achievements of DDA for the preparation of macrocyclic, bicyclic, heterocyclic, and polycyclic structures documented since its revelation in 1980 to 2020. Emphasis is put on the synthesis of various structural classes based on the selectivity of the DDA reaction.