The benefits of applying high pressure (1-20 kbar; 0.1-2.0 GPa) to organic reactions which have a-AY'are readily seen by considering the variety of synthetic organic reactions recently found to be accelerated under elevated pressures. 2 One example which is of possible commercial interest is the synthesis of the potent vesicant cantharidin which is used in the removal of benign epithelial growths (warts). This synthesis proceeds via the Diels-Alder ...