[Janey]

Well, I'm back again  

So, I have a question about a reaction mechanism, according to my chemistry book the open-chain compound (which used to be cyclic)

(CH₃)₂H-NC₅=NCH₃(CH₂)

reacts with cyclopentadiene while sodium methanolate (CH₃ONa) acts as a catalyst. Firstly an addition is happening, followed by the elimination of dimethylamine. The product is C₁₂H₁₅N.

Well, does anybody know what the reaction mechanism looks like? I'm unsure, all I dare assume so far is that the sodium methanolate acts as a base. Any ideas?

[movies]

Uh...the formula you wrote doesn't make sense.  Can you draw out the structures?