In the Diels-Alder reaction shown below, a Lewis acid-Lewis base complex forms with the dienophile. Predict what will happen to the rate of the reaction and justify your answer.

• A. The reaction will proceed faster due to the increased energy gap between the HOMO-LUMO of the diene and dienophile.
• B. The reaction will proceed slower due to the increased bulkiness of the dienophile.
• C. The reaction will proceed faster due to the reduced electron repulsion between the diene and the dienophile.
• D. The reaction will proceed slower due to the additional electrons introduced between the reactants and products.

Answer: (C)