Copper-catalyzed electrosynthesis of 1-acyl-2,2-diphenylcyclopropanes and their behaviour in acidic medium

The formation of 1-acyl-2,2-diphenylcyclopropanes is performed under mild electrochemical conditions. These cyclopropane derivatives, through acid-catalyzed ring-opening, lead to γ,γ-diphenyl-β,γ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds which evolve into either substituted naphthalenes, or β-benzhydryl-α,β-cycloalkenones depending on the acyclic or cyclic nature of the intermediate allyl ketone.