Cyanomethyl anion transfer reagents for diastereoselective Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation reactions

A general approach to nitrile- and sulfonyl fluoride-substituted cyclopropanes

Both cis and trans relative configurations of functionalized cyano cyclopropane bearing sulfonyl fluoride moiety were accessed by Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation reactions. This protocol used mild conditions, and obtained good yields with excellent functional group compatibility. Further application of this class of compounds in SuFEx reactions and cyano reductions were also successfully achieved in good yields.

Catalytic Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Cyclopropenes and Oligo-Cyclopropenes

The synthesis of trifluoromethylated cyclopropenes is often associated with important applications in drug discovery and functional materials. In this report, we describe the use of readily available chiral rhodium(II) catalysts for a highly efficient asymmetric cyclopropenation reaction of fluorinated donor–acceptor diazoalkanes with a broad variety of aliphatic and aromatic alkynes. Further studies highlight the unique reactivity of fluorinated donor–acceptor diazoalkanes in the synthesis of oligo‐cyclopropenes. Subsequent C−H functionalization of trifluoromethyl cyclopropenes furnishes densely substituted cyclopropene frameworks and also allows the alternative synthesis of bis‐cyclopropenes.

Rhodium catalysed synthesis of seleno-ketals via carbene transfer reactions of diazoesters

Herein, we report on rhodium catalysed carbene transfer reactions of diazoesters with diselenides that result in the formal insertion reaction of the carbene fragment into the Se-Se bond to give seleno-ketals in up to 96% yield (35 examples) via an ionic mechanism.

Ring-opening cyclization of spirocyclopropanes with stabilized sulfonium ylides for the construction of a chromane skeleton

Regioselective ring-opening cyclization of cyclohexane-1,3-dione-2-spirocyclopropanes with stabilized sulfonium ylides provided 2,3-trans-disubstituted 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-5H-1-benzopyran-5-ones in high yields without the formation of any isomers. The obtained product was readily converted into highly substituted chromane.

Dealkylative intercepted rearrangement reactions of sulfur ylides

A simple and readily available Fe(ii) catalyst can be employed in a formal functional group metathesis of thioethers with broad applicability and yields of up to 95%. Mechanistic investigations reveal a marked effect of chloride ions.