A dienophile is a chemical compound that readily reacts with a diene in a reaction known as a Diels-Alder reaction. In this process, the dienophile typically has a double or triple bond, allowing it to form new bonds with the diene, which contains two conjugated double bonds. This reaction is widely used in organic chemistry to create complex cyclic structures. Dienophiles are often electron-deficient, meaning they can attract electrons from the electron-rich diene. Common examples of dienophiles include maleic anhydride and acrylonitrile. The ability of dienophiles to participate in these reactions makes them valuable in synthesizing various organic compounds.