Editing Conrotatory and disrotatory (section)

==Example of a thermal reaction==
Suppose that trans-cis-trans-2,4,6-octatriene is converted to {{chem name|dimethylcyclohexadiene}} under thermal conditions.  Since the substrate octatriene is a "4n + 2" molecule, the [[Woodward–Hoffmann rules]] predict that the reaction happens in a disrotatory mechanism.

Since thermal electrocyclic reactions occur in the HOMO, it is first necessary to draw the appropriate [[molecular orbital diagram|molecular orbitals]]. Next, the new carbon-carbon bond is formed by taking two of the p-orbitals and rotating them 90 degrees (see diagram). Since the new bond requires constructive overlap, the orbitals must be rotated in a certain way. Performing a disrotation will cause the two black lobes to overlap, forming a new bond. Therefore, the reaction with octatriene happens through a disrotatory mechanism.

In contrast, if a conrotation had been performed then one white lobe would overlap with one black lobe.  This would have caused destructive interference and no new carbon-carbon bond would have been formed.

In addition, the cis/trans geometry of the product can also be determined. When the p-orbitals were rotated inwards it also caused the two methyl groups to rotate upwards. Since both methyls are pointing "up", then the product is {{chem name|'''cis'''-dimethylcyclohexadiene}}.

[[File:Disrotatory electrophilic reaction molecular orbitals.svg|center|Disrotatory ring closing reaction]]