Direct Amidocyclopropanation of Alkenes Using Organozinc Carbenoids

Significance

The aminocyclopropyl moiety is widespread in biologically active natural molecules and pharmaceutical agents. The direct synthesis of those compounds from alkenes is an interesting alternative to the classical multistep methods. Herein, an elegant and simple synthetic approach to this class of substances, based on the formation of zinc carbenoids from diethoxymethylamides, is described. The method is suitable for the preparation of amido- and aminocyclopropanes of various structural classes. The starting diethoxy­methylamides are easily available from the corresponding amides.