The cyclopropanation of alkenes through the transition-metal-catalyzed decomposition
of diazo compounds is a powerful and straightforward strategy to produce cyclopropanes.
Nevertheless, the appeal of further application of this strategy is tempered by the
potentially explosive nature of the diazo substrates. Therefore, it is highly desirable
to develop sustainable and operationally safe surrogates for diazo compounds. In this
Synpacts article, we discuss recent advances on the cyclopropane syntheses through
the catalytic cyclopropanation of alkenes and metal carbenes generated in situ from
nondiazo precursors as well as highlight our recent progress on the unprecedented
molybdenum-catalyzed deoxygenative cyclopropanation reaction of 1,2-dicarbonyl or
monocarbonyl compounds.
Key words
cyclopropane syntheses - diazo surrogates - transition-metal carbene - molybdenum
catalysis - deoxygenative cyclopropanation