Michael H Howard et al.
The Journal of organic chemistry, 68(1), 120-129 (2003-01-08)
Reaction of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1-dicyanoethylene (BTF; 1) with 6,6-dimethylfulvene (2) affords the expected Diels-Alder cycloadduct, 7-(1-methylethylidene)-3,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2-dicarbonitrile (3), in good yield. The cycloadduct 3 is unstable and exists in equilibrium with the starting materials in less polar solvents. In more polar environment, the