The reactions of an aluminium(I) reagent with a series of 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,5-dienes are reported. In the case of 1,3-dienes the reaction occurs by a pericyclic reaction mechanism, specifically a cheletropic cycloaddition, to form aluminocyclopentene containing products. This mechanism has been interrogated by stereochemical experiments and DFT calculations. The stereochemical experiments show that the (4+1) cycloaddition follows a suprafacial topology, while calculations support a concerted albeit asynchronous pathway in which the transition state demonstrates aromatic character. Remarkably, the substrate scope of the (4+1) cycloaddition includes dienes that are either in part, or entirely, contained within aromatic rings. In these cases, reactions occur with dearomatisation of the substrate and can be reversible. In the case of 1,2- or 1,5-dienes complementary reactivity is observed; the orthogonal nature of the C=C π-bonds (1,2-diene) and the homoconjugated system (1,5-diene) both disfavour a (4+1) cycloaddition. Rather, reaction pathways are determined by an initial (2+1) cycloaddition to form an aluminocyclopropane intermediate which can in turn undergo insertion of a further C=C π-bond leading to complex organometallic products that incorporate fused hydrocarbon rings.
