The ene reaction of singlet oxygen (
1O
2), triazolinedione (TAD), and nitrosoarene, specifically4-nitronitrosobenzene (ArNO), with the tetrasubstituted 1,3-allylically strained, chiral allylic alcohol 3,4-dimethylpent-3-en-2-ol (
2) leads to the
threo-configured ene products in high diastereoselectivity, aconsequence of the hydroxy-group directivity. Hydrogen bonding favors formation of the
threo-configuredencounter complex
threo-
EC in the early stage of ene reaction. For the analogous
twix deuterium-labeledallylic alcohol
Z-
2-
d3, a hitherto unrecognized dichotomy between
1O
2 and the ArNO and TAD enophiles isdisclosed in the regioselectivity of the tetrasubstituted alcohol: Whereas for ArNO and TAD, hydrogenbonding with the allylic hydroxy group dictates the regioselectivity (
twix selectivity), for
1O
2, the cis effectdominates (
twin/
trix selectivity). From the interdependence between the
twix/
twin regioselectivity and the
threo/
erythro diastereoselectivity, it has been recognized that the enophile also attacks the allylic alcoholfrom the
erythro ![](/images/gifchars/pi.gif)
face without assistance by hydrogen bonding with the allylic hydroxy functionality.