Prediction of the reactivity of 2(5H)-furanones as potential dienophiles in Diels-Alder reactions using philicity indexes

Abstract The global electrophilicity index is used for classifying the reactivity of a series of 2(5H)-furanones as dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions. The local reactivity and the preferential cyclization modes of these cycloadditions are predicted using philicity indexes recently proposed by Chattaraj et al. [P.K. Chattaraj, B. Maiti, U. Sarkar, J. Phys. Chem. A 107 (2003) 4973] for the prediction of the most favorable electrophile–nucleophile interaction. All cycloadditions treated in the present analysis are predicted to have a normal electron demand character.