Catalytic and asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes catalysed by rhenium(I) bipyridine and terpyridine tricarbonyl complexes.

Re(I) tricarbonyl bipyridine and terpyridine complexes catalyse stereospecific cyclopropanation of alkenes; high selectivity of cyclopropane vs coupling and an ee of 73% and 62% for cis- and trans-cyclopropanes of styrene respectively were achieved with the [Re(L)(CO)(3)(MeCN)]OTf complex (L = chiral C(2)-symmetric terpyridine ligand).