The Diels-Alder reaction is a very powerful and selective means for introducing densely packed relative stereochemistry in one synthetic step. The term “relative stereochemistry” is used reiteratively to clearly indicate the typical reaction is not stereoselectively producing one enantiomer over another. Such an outcome would require the transition state taking place in an asymmetric environment. Part One revealed how the reaction is useful in the synthesis of simple six-membered rings, however the synthetic utility spans beyond this.
