Triethylsulfonium Bistriflimide as the Reaction Medium in Catalyzed and Uncatalyzed Cycloaddition [4 + 2]

Triethylsulfonium bistriflimide, [S2.2.2][NTf2], has been tested and compared with other ionic liquids and molecular solvents as a medium in Diels–Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and dimethyl maleate. Triflates and chlorides of different metals have been combined with [S2.2.2][NTf2] and the catalytic activity of the systems formed have been determined. The effect of concentration of the catalysts in sulfonium ionic liquid and reactants on the yield and endo:exo ratio has been established. The representative catalyst—Yb(OTf)3·xH2O in [S2.2.2][NTf2] has been examined in the reaction of cyclopentadiene with various dienophiles. The use of sulfonium ionic liquids permitted recycling the catalysts. For the best four catalytic systems, the products have been isolated.