A short and stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted cyclopropanes from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide

The reaction of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion of dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide with a variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave highly substituted cyclopropanes (up to five substituents) in good to high yields with high stereoselectivity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.