A straightforward reaction sequence consisting of a cobalt-catalysed Diels-Alder reaction for the generation of dihydroaromatic compounds and a rhodium- or alternatively a copper-catalysed CH-insertion reaction of carbenoids from diazo esters generates highly substituted benzene derivatives. When acyclic 1,4-dienes are synthesised by a cobalt-catalysed 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction, the rhodium-catalysed conversion with diazo esters leads to cyclopropanation rather than CH-insertion products.
catalysis - cobalt - copper - cyclopropanation - 1,4-diene