title: Dihalocarbene insertion reactions into C-H bonds of compounds containing small rings: mechanisms and regio- and stereoselectivities.
abstract: Novel insertion reactions of dichloro- and dibromocarbene into carbon-hydrogen bonds adjacent to cyclopropane rings are reported. It is found that the predominant isomers formed in the reactions with bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane result from insertion into the endo carbon-hydrogen bonds alpha to the three-membered ring. In the reactions of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, however, the exo dihalocarbene insertion products are formed as the major isomers. In some compounds cyclopropane rings "activate" adjacent carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas other systems containing three-membered rings do not. Moreover, the influence of various substituents (methyl, geminal dimethyl, phenyl, methoxy, and ethoxy) attached to bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane in dihalocarbene reactions has been studied. The findings can be explained by the concept of maximum orbital overlaps of Walsh orbitals of the cyclopropane rings and the alpha carbon-hydrogen bonds. In stark contrast, selective insertion into the tertiary carbon-hydrogen bonds of the cyclobutane ring in bicyclo[4.2.0]octane is observed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Wien, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Wien, Austria. Udo.Brinker@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Udo H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Brinker
authors.forename: Guoying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Linxiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mieusset