Synlett 2014; 25(6): 760-765
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1340626
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Intermolecular Ketene–Alkene [2+2] Cycloadditions: The Significance of ­Lewis Acid Promoted Variants

Christopher M. Rasik
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA   Email: brownmkb@indiana.edu
,
M. Kevin Brown*
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA   Email: brownmkb@indiana.edu
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 15 November 2013

Accepted after revision: 10 December 2013

Publication Date:
15 January 2014 (online)


Abstract

Ketene–alkene [2+2] cycloadditions are an important class of reactions for chemical synthesis. These processes were exclusively carried out under thermal conditions, which ultimately lead to limitations regarding scope and stereoselectivity. Reviewed herein are recently developed Lewis acid promoted ketene–alkene [2+2] cycloadditions that address several of the problems known to plague these reactions.