Selective Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage of Cyclopropanols

The carbon-carbon (C-C) bond cleavage of cyclopropanols is a wide area of research with much current activity. This review highlights new developments in this area over the past two decades. A summary is made of the three main reactivity modes, namely, homoenolate chemistry, beta-keto radical chemistry, and acid-catalyzed ring-opening, as well as all other methods for the C-C bond cleavage and functionalization of cyclopropanols, including base-mediated ring-opening, metal-catalyzed C-C insertions and eliminations, oxidative fragmentation using hypervalent iodine reagents, reactions of donor-acceptor cyclopropanols, and pericylic reactions. Emphasis is placed on the synthetic utility of cyclopropanols and related derivatives, which have emerged as unique three-carbon synthons.

Automated summary

The carbon-carbon bond cleavage of cyclopropanols is a research hotspot, involving three main reactivity modes such as homoenolate chemistry, beta-keto radical chemistry, and acid-catalyzed ring-opening. Various methods for the C-C bond cleavage and functionalization of cyclopropanols are summarized, emphasizing their synthetic utility.