Chiral catalysts for enantioselective intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions with methyl phenyldiazoacetate. Origin of the solvent effect in reactions catalyzed by homochiral dirhodium(II) prolinates
The highest levels of enantiocontrol in intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions of methylphenyldiazoacetate have been achieved with homochiral dirhodium(II) prolinates in pentane, the solvent effect for which (0.8 +/- 0.2 kcal/mol) is associated with ligand alignment. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd