Diels-Alder reaction

[ deelz-ahl-der ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. the reaction in which a conjugated diene combines with a double or triple bond of a given compound to form a ring of six carbon atoms.

Diels-Alder reaction

/ ˈdiːlzˈɔːldə /

noun

1. chem a type of chemical reaction in which one organic compound containing conjugated double bonds adds to another containing an ethylenic bond to form a product containing a ring

Word History and Origins

Origin of Diels-Alder reaction¹

Named after O. Diels and K. Alder

Word History and Origins

Origin of Diels-Alder reaction¹

C20: named after Otto Diels (1876–1954) and Kurt Alder (1902–58), German chemists

Example Sentences

He tested the organic molecule’s ability to drive a Diels-Alder reaction, which can build rings of carbon atoms.

From New York Times

There are no immediate applications for the particular Diels-Alder reaction that this enzyme catalyses, and, compared with naturally occurring enzymes that catalyze other reactions, it's not very active.

From Scientific American