Cyclopropanation of unactivated 1,3-dienes by fischer carbene complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00023a045

Though Fischer carbene complexes do not, in general, react with unactivated alkenes, Fischer carbene complexes of molybdenum and chromium have been found to readily monocyclopropanate many simple 1,3-dienes in good-to-excellent yields, with high levels of chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. A mechanism involving the intermediacy of an η¹-alkyl, η³-allyl complex is proposed to account for this selectivity.