Regiodivergent Ring-Opening Reaction of Trichloromethylcyclopropane Carboxylates.

Reagent-controlled regiodivergent ring-opening reactions of trichloromethylcyclopropane carboxylates have been developed. The regioselectivity of bond cleavage is completely controlled by the proper choice of silver salts; the treatment of trichloromethylcyclopropane with AgBF4 led to C2-C3 bond cleavage and fluorination to afford fluorinated β,γ-unsaturated ester with high stereoselectivity, while the reaction with AgOAc in THF gave a γ,δ-unsaturated ester through the reductive cleavage of the C1-C2 bond.

Reaction of cyclopropenes with a trichloromethyl radical: unprecedented ring-opening reaction of cyclopropanes with migration.

The direct addition reaction of chloroform to cyclopropenes under triethylborane-mediated radical reaction conditions to provide trichloromethylcyclopropanes has been developed. In contrast, using dimethylzinc as a radical initiator led to the formation of unconjugated esters via a domino sequence involving the addition of the trichloromethyl radical, rearrangement and ring-opening reactions.