Enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation of α-diazo-β-keto sulfones: asymmetric synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes and tricyclo[4.4.0.0]decenes

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of some new chiral building blocks useful for natural product synthesis is described. The intramolecular cyclopropanation (IMCP) reaction of α-diazo-β-keto sulfones affording bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes such as 9a–d is found to proceed with high enantioselectivity (93–98% ee). The yield is moderate due to the competing intramolecular C–H insertion reaction. As intramolecular C–H insertion reaction is not observed in the reaction of the substrates possessing a quaternary carbon at the allylic position, the reactions of 19a and 19b proceed with high enantioselectivity (95% ee) and yield. It was also found that the substrates possessing an ether group, such as 19a and 19b, could be used in this enantioselective IMCP reaction.