Metal-Catalyzed Olefin Cyclopropanation with Ethyl Diazoacetate: Control of the Diastereoselectivity

The control of the cis/trans diastereoselectivity by catalyst design in the olefin cyclopropanation reaction with ethyl diazoacetate is reviewed. Catalysts based on ruthenium, copper, rhodium, iron, osmium. and cobalt are discussed. The degree of stereocontrol achieved for styrene and related aryl-containing olefins is higher than that for terminal alkenes with no aryl substituents. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)