DIRHODIUM(II) TETRA(TRIPHENYLACETATE) - A HIGHLY EFFICIENT CATALYST FOR THE SITE-SELECTIVE INTRAMOLECULAR C-H INSERTION REACTIONS OF ALPHA-DIAZO BETA-KETO-ESTERS
Dirhodium(II) tetra(triphenylacetate), Rh2(TPA)4, featured by a bulky bridging ligand has been demonstrated to exhibit an exceptionally high order of selectivity for C-H insertion into methylene over methine in catalytic decompositions of alpha-diazo beta-keto esters tethered to a cyclic system, thus providing an expedient and general entry to bicyclic compounds in preference to spirocyclic compounds. The efficiency is verified well by high-yield and site-controlled construction of bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivative, a pivotal intermediate for the convergent synthesis of (+)-isocarbacyclin.