Abstract The structures and stereochemistry of the Diels-Alder adducts of 2, 3-dihydro- benzyl alcohol (1a) and its acetate (1b) with ethyl acrylate have been established. The directing effect of the hydroxymethyl group in (1a) was such that 82%? ortho? and 18%? meta? adducts were obtained. The reaction of ethyl acrylate with 2, 3-dihydrobenzyl acetate (1b) was slower than with (1a) but gave a similar proportion of meta adduct (21%). ...
