Olefin cyclopropanation catalyzed by new diiminophosphorane and triiminophosphorane complexes of copper and palladium

Chelating diiminophosphorane and tripodal iminophosphorane copper and palladium complexes are found to efficiently catalyze the cyclopropanation of activated monosubstituted olefins with ethyl diazoacetate. Cycloolefins, and linear α-olefins are somewhat less reactive. The diastereoselectivities of the reactions are moderate and no major differences were seen when comparing the bidentate chelating ligand to the tripodal ligands.