Cyclopropanes in Nicholas reaction: formation of spiroketals with a five-membered and a seven- or an eight-membered ring

The consecutive treatment of 5-hydroxy-1-pentynyl 2,2-disubstituted-cyclopropyl ketones with Co2(CO)8 and BF3·OEt2 produced the corresponding Co2(CO)6-complexed dioxaspiro[4.6] derivatives. The one-carbon homologated substrates also afforded dioxaspiro[4.7]. It was found that this procedure can be applied to the substrates with gem-disubstituents as well as a mono-aryl substituent on the cyclopropane, but the mono-alkyl substituted cyclopropanes are insufficient.