Rh-catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropanation with alpha-alkyl-alpha-diazoesters: catalyst-dependent chemo- and diastereoselectivity.

A Rh-catalyzed procedure for the cyclopropanation of alkenes with alpha-alkyl-alpha-diazoesters is described. With dirhodium tetraoctanoate, the predominant pathway is beta-hydride elimination. While a number of sterically demanding carboxylate ligands serve to avoid beta-hydride elimination, it was found that triphenylacetate (TPA) also imparts high diastereoselectivity.

Rh-catalyzed formation of dioxolanes from alpha-alkyl diazoesters: diastereoselective cycloadditions of carbonyl ylides with selectivity over beta-hydride elimination.

Described here is a diastereoselective Rh-catalyzed method for the preparation of dioxolanes from alpha-alkyl-alpha-diazoesters. This represents the first general method for generating carbonyl ylides from alpha-diazoesters that possess beta-hydrogens, as such diazo compounds typically give rise to alkenes via beta-hydride elimination. Subsequent cycloaddition with aromatic aldehydes gives tetrasubstituted dioxolanes with unusually high diastereoselectivity.

Synthesis of a functional C2-symmetrical bidentate diphenylphosphonite DIOP derivative and its conversion into the corresponding pi-acidic bis(pentafluorophenyl) and bis(p-tetrafluoropyridyl) compounds.

The reaction of a C2-symmetric diiodo compound, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-diiodo-2,3,-O-isopropyliden-L-threitole, with [K([18]crown-6)]P(CN)2 led to the generation of a corresponding bidentate dicyanophosphorus derivative. The in situ reaction with excess methanol and phenol yielded the corresponding bidentate dimethyl- and diphenylphosphonites, respectively. The isolated liquids were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry.