Temperature and Diels–Alder Reaction Reversibility

The Diels–Alder reaction is thermally reversible. At suitable temperatures, it can return to the starting diene and dienophile. The forward reaction forms a cyclohexene derivative and is favored at low to medium temperatures.

The reverse process is called the retro-Diels–Alder reaction. It is a r...

The Diels–Alder is a reversible reaction where the reaction temperature strongly influences the equilibrium position.

Moderate temperatures favor the addition product, whereas high temperatures favor the reactants via the reverse reaction known as retro Diels–Alder.

But why?

Recall that the change in Gibbs free energy, ∆...