Thermal [2+2]: spot the forbidden cycloaddition

Single question

Two styrenes dimerize to give 1,2-diphenylcyclobutane in a single [2+2] step. The structures are right and the reaction class is a real cycloaddition. Check the conditions against the Woodward-Hoffmann rules.

Woodward-Hoffmann selection rules

[2+2] thermal vs photochemical

Frontier molecular orbital symmetry

Find the flaw

Click the step that contains the flaw, or pick “No flaw” if you think every step is correct.

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