Deciphering stereochemical notation in electrocylization reaction

I not agree with this solution, for me the red bond formed must be a dotted line in the drawing, and the hydrogen atom musn't be represent with a dot. Am I right or not? 


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/q1GKV.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/q1GKV.png)




You are both correct and incorrect. (And this entirely without superimposition of quantum states!)


You are taking an achiral molecule and performing a reaction in achiral media to form a chiral product. Symmetry dictates that the reaction **must** be racemic, so there **must** be equal amounts of upward-pointing and downward-pointing carboxylates.


However, the drawing is also **incomplete.** It does not make sense to discuss the reaction without labelling the *entire stereochemistry* at the newly formed bond. It is important to realise that it generates only two of the four possible stereoisomers: the two *syn* ones ((*S*,*R*) and (*R*,*S*)). You should add an upwards-pointing hydrogen to the right-hand carbon of the new bond.




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Judging by your comments, you are only interested in the arrow direction and resulting movement. Well, the arrows are *not clear.* They are 2D on a 2D plane and trying to signify a 3D movement. You could grab the curved bit of the arrow like a handle and:


* either pull it upwards — then you have a rotation which would move the carboxylate *below* your screen’s plane and create the downward-pointing product ((*R*) on the α-carboxylate carbon),
* or push it downwards — then you have the rotation which would move the carboxylate *above* the screen’s plane and create the upward-pointing product ((*S*) on the α-carboxylate carbon).


So the arrows’ directions are arbitrary, we do not know if the are shaped below or above the plane.


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