Titanium-Mediated Cyclopropanation of Imides

Significance

This is an interesting modification of the Kulinkovich reaction, now allowing the direct preparation of polycyclic spirolactams and amines with cyclopropyl rings from simple imides. The products can be converted into functionalized amino acids bearing a cyclopropyl moiety, which are interesting intermediates for the synthesis of new biologically active compounds or can be converted into bis(cyclopropyl)amines. This reaction can be applied to the synthesis of various natural alkaloids and their analogues.