TfNH2 as Achiral Hydrogen-Bond Donor Additive to Enhance the Selectivity of a Transition Metal Catalyzed Reaction. Highly Enantio- and Diastereoselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Alkenes Using α-Cyano Diazoacetamide

A highly stereoselective (up to 98% ee and 99:1 dr) Rh(II)-catalyzed formation of nitrile-substituted cyclopropanes is described. alpha-Cyano diazoacetamide reagents react with a variety of mono- and disubstituted olefins in good yields and excellent enantio- and diastereocontrol. Less reactive substrates, such as aliphatic olefins, also undergo the reaction. This new methodology features the unprecedented use of an achiral, hydrogen-bond donor additive to enhance the selectivity and exploits the powerful trans-directing ability of amides solving the diastereocontrol issue of the formation of substituted 1-cyanocyclopropane-1-carboxy derivatives.