Organic chemists have always been fascinated by the cyclopropane subunit.1 The smallest cycloalkane is found as a basic structural element in a wide range of naturally occurring compounds.2 Moreover, many cyclopropane-containing unnatural products have been prepared to test the bonding features of this class of highly strained cycloalkanes3 and to study enzyme mechanism or inhibition.4 Cyclopropanes have also been used as versatile synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of more functionalized cycloalkanes5,6 and acyclic compounds.7 In recent years, most of the synthetic efforts have focused on the enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropanes.8 This has remained a challenge ever since it was found that the members of the pyrethroid class of compounds were effective insecticides.9 New and more efficient methods for the preparation of these entities in enantiomerically pure form are still evolving, and this review will focus mainly on the new methods that have appeared in the literature since 1989. It will elaborate on only three types of stereoselective cyclopropanation reactions from olefins: the halomethylmetal-mediated cyclopropanation reactions (eq 1), the transition metal-catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds (eq 2), and the nucleophilic addition-ring closure sequence (eqs 3 and 4). These three processes will be examined in the context of diastereoand enantiocontrol. In the last section of the review, other methods commonly used to make chiral, nonracemic cyclopropanes will be briefly outlined.

Stereoselective Cyclopropanation Reactions

Catalytic carbene insertion into C-H bonds.

Catalytic enantioselective C-H activation by means of metal-carbenoid-induced C-H insertion.

Recent Advances in Asymmetric Catalytic Metal Carbene Transformations.

II.2.1. Homogeneous Systems 2166 II.2.2. Heterogeneous Systems 2168 II.3. Hydride Transfer Reduction 2169 II.3.1. Homogeneous Systems 2169 II.3.2. Heterogeneous Systems 2171 II.4. Hydrosilylation 2172 III. C−O Bond Formation 2173 III.1. Epoxidation of Unfunctionalized Olefins 2173 III.1.1. Homogeneous Catalysis 2173 III.1.2. Heterogeneous System 2176 III.2. Dihydroxylation of Olefins 2178 III.2.1. Homogeneous Systems 2178 III.2.2. Heterogeneous System 2178 III.3. Ring Opening of Meso Epoxides 2180 III.4. Kinetic Resolution 2180 III.4.1. Terminal Epoxides 2180 III.4.2. Secondary Alcohols 2181 IV. C−H Bond Oxidation 2181 IV.1. Allylic and Benzylic Oxidation 2181 IV.2. Baeyer−Villiger-type Reaction 2181 IV.3. Wacker-type Cyclization 2182 V. S−O Bond Formation 2182 VI. C−N Bond Formation 2183 VI.1. Hydroboration/Amination 2183 VI.2. Enolate Amination 2183 VI.3. Aza-Claisen Rearrangement 2183 VI.4. Azide Synthesis 2184 VI.5. Aminohydroxylation 2184 VI.6. Aziridine Synthesis 2184 VI.7. C−N Bond Formation via S−N Bond Formation 2185

Nitrogen-containing ligands for asymmetric homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Chiral catalysts for enantioselective intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions with methyl phenyldiazoacetate. Origin of the solvent effect in reactions catalyzed by homochiral dirhodium(II) prolinates

Mario A. Longoria

Papers

Chiral catalysts for enantioselective intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions with methyl phenyldiazoacetate. Origin of the solvent effect in reactions catalyzed by homochiral dirhodium(II) prolinates