Synthetic Applications of Aroyl- and Nitro-substituted 2-Aryl-Cyclopropane-1,1-Dicarboxylates

The synthetic applications of aroyl- and nitro-substituted D-A cyclopropanes probed in the authors' laboratory are reviewed. These cyclopropanes, though looking similar, exhibit markedly different reactivity patterns. Lewis acid-mediated transformations of these cyclopropanes (in the presence or absence of a reaction partner) afford a variety of carbocycles and heterocycles. Mechanistic aspects of the reactions are discussed for clear understanding of the transformations.