title: Diamidocarbenes as versatile and reversible [2 + 1] cycloaddition reagents.
abstract: We describe the synthesis of a variety of cyclopropanes and epoxides by combining a readily accessible and isolable N,N'-diamidocarbene with a range of structurally and electronically diverse olefins and aldehydes, including electron-rich derivatives. Surprisingly, the cyclopropanation and epoxidation reactions were discovered to be rapid and thermally reversible at relatively low temperatures, two features often desired for applications that utilize dynamic covalent chemistry. In addition, a diamidocyclopropane derivative prepared via this method was hydrolysed successfully to form the corresponding linear carboxylic acid in a metal- and carbon monoxide-free hydrocarboxylation reaction. As such, diamidocarbenes are expected to find utility in the synthesis of cyclopropanes, epoxides and their derivatives, as well as in dynamic covalent chemistry applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas                 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moerdyk
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bielawski
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry; D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D003500:Cyclization; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000475:Alkenes; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007659:Ketones; C030011:carbene; D008697:Methane