Zinc-catalyzed cyclopropenation of alkynes via 2-furylcarbenoids

Org Lett. 2014 Nov 7;16(21):5780-3. doi: 10.1021/ol502848n. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Abstract

An unprecedented cyclopropenation reaction of alkynes catalyzed by ZnCl2 is reported. While Simmons-Smith-type carbenoids failed in the [2 + 1]-cycloaddition with alkynes, the use of enynones as the carbene source enables the preparation of substituted 2-furyl cyclopropene derivatives with remarkable scope.