A new and efficient method for the selective olefination of aldehydes with ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by an iron(II) porphyrin complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja016721v

Olefination of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with ethyl diazoacetate was achieved in excellent yields with triphenylphosphine and catalytic amounts of iron(II) meso-tetra(p-tolyl)porphyrin. The reaction conditions are mild and the process is efficient and highly selective (>90%) for the synthesis of the trans-olefin isomer. Results of mechanistic studies are discussed. Copyright