Chromium-mediated stereoselective synthesis of carbohydrate-derived (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters or amides.

A chromium-mediated novel synthesis of carbohydrate-derived di- and trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters or amides from a range of dichloroesters or amides and a variety of sugar aldehydes is reported. The process took place with total stereoselectivity and in high yields. A mechanism based on a sequential chromium-promoted aldol-type reaction and a completely stereoselective β-elimination reaction is proposed to explain these results.

CrCl2-promoted stereospecific and stereoselective alkyl- and silylcyclopropanation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides.

An efficient chromium-promoted alkyl- or silylcyclopropanation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides is described. These reactions can be carried out on (E)- or (Z)-alpha,beta-enamides in which the C-C double bond is di-, or trisubstituted. This process takes place with total stereospecificity and the new stereogenic center is generated with high or total stereoselectivity.

Stereospecific and stereoselective alkyl and silylcyclopropanation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides.

A novel chromium-promoted alkyl- and silyl cyclopropanation of (E)- or (Z)-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides in which the C-C double bond is di-, or trisubstituted is described. This process takes place with total stereospecificity, and the new stereogenic center is generated with high or total stereoselectivity. A mechanism is proposed to explain the cyclopropanation reaction.

Stereospecific cyclopropanation of highly substituted C-C double bonds promoted by CrCl2. Stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropanecarboxamides and cyclopropyl ketones.

We describe herein a CrCl(2)-promoted cyclopropanation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides. This reaction can be carried out on (E)- or (Z)-alpha,beta-enamides in which the C-C double bond is di-, tri-, or tetrasubstituted. In all cases the process is completely stereospecific and only a single diastereoisomer is obtained.