Changkun Li

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Transannulation of Cyclopropenes with N-Phenoxyacetamides through CH Activation†

An efficient rhodium(III)-catalyzed synthesis of 2H-chromene from N-phenoxyacetamides and cyclopropenes has been developed. The reaction represents the first example of using cyclopropenes as a three-carbon unit in rhodium(III)-catalyzed C(sp(2))-H activations.

Rh(I)-Catalyzed Carbonylative Carbocyclization of Tethered Ene− and Yne−cyclopropenes

Rh(I)-catalyzed carbonylative carbocyclization of ene- and yne-cyclopropene systems provides cyclohexenones and phenols with high efficiency, respectively.

Zn(II)- or Rh(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of silylated [1,1'-bi(cyclopropan)]-2'-en-1-ols.

The rearrangement reactions of silylated alcohols bearing the highly strained structures of cyclopropene and cyclopropanol connected in adjacent positions have been studied under ZnI2- and Rh(I)-catalyzed conditions. The results show intriguing carbon skeletal reorganizations of such system under these conditions. The ZnI2-catalyzed reaction proceeds with C-O cleavage and the rearrangement of the resultant carbon cation, leading to the breaking of the C-C single bond that connects two three-memebered rings. In contrast, the Rh(I)-catalyzed reaction involves σ-bond oxidative addition of the cyclopropene moiety, followed by β-carbon elimination of the cyclopropane moiety.