A new strategy of the chemical route to the cyclopropane structure: direct transformation of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile into 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes

The new reaction was found: the direct formation of cyclopropanes from activated olefins and C–H acids. The action of free halogen or active halogen containing compounds on the equal amounts of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile in basic alcohol solutions results in the formation of 3-aryl-1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes in 65–95% yields. Thus, the new simple and efficient way to 3-aryl substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes was found directly from such simple and reasonable starting compounds as benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile.