Methylidenecycloproparenes: Novel Compounds with Fascinating Properties

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1997-723

Proton abstraction from the methylene position of a cycloproparene provides the corresponding C1 anion that can be intercepted by a carbonyl-containing compound to provide a wide range of novel methylidenecycloproparenes. The physical and chemical aspects of this comparatively new class of surprisingly stable, strained compounds have been explored. The present account provides a perspective on these developments from the initial experiments in the Utah laboratories.