The metal‐catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds in the presence of alkenes is a well‐established reaction. Since the original Organic Reactions review on the reaction of ethyl diazoacetate with alkenes and aromatic compounds in 1970, several new developments have revolutionized this area of chemistry. Most notably, major advances have been made in catalyst design such that highly chemoselective, diastereoselective and enantioselective carbenoid transformations can now be achieved. Furthermore, it has been recognized that a wide array of carbenoid structures can be utilized in this chemistry, leading to a broad range of synthetic applications. This chapter comprises coverage of the metal‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropanations of diazo compounds containing at least one adjacent electron‐withdrawing group. The coverage of diazoacetate chemistry will be limited to material since 1970 because the previous Organic Reactions review covers the earlier literature. The alkene component is limited to alkenes, dienes, furans, and pyrroles because these are the systems that have resulted in the greatest developments since the 1970 review. Metal‐carbenoid intermediates derived from diazo compounds undergo a variety of useful reactions, including cyclopropanation, insertion, and ylide formation. In recent years several excellent reviews have appeared on various aspects of this chemistry. Three recent reviews have focused on asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanations. Several books and reviews on carbenoid chemistry have major sections on intermolecular cyclopropanations. Because of the historical central prominence of carbenoids derived from diazoacetates, most reviews have tended to focus on this class of carbenoids. In this chapter, a comparison is presented of the chemical differences that exist among the major classes of carbenoids that contain adjacent electron‐withdrawing groups. The extensive nature of the topic precludes coverage of related reactions such as the metal‐catalyzed decomposition of diazoalkanes, phenyldiazoalkanes, or vinyldiazoalkanes that lack adjacent electron‐withdrawing functionality. Other cyclopropanation reactions such as the Simmons‐Smith reaction, photochemical or thermal decomposition of diazo compounds in the presence of alkenes, and cyclopropanation using stoichiometric metal carbenes are not covered.

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Rh(2)(R-DOSP)(4)-catalyzed decomposition of methyl phenyldiazoacetate in the presence of tetraalkoxysilanes results in the asymmetric synthesis of syn-aldol products. This catalytic asymmetric intermolecular C-H activation proceeds by means of a rhodium-carbene-induced C-H insertion.

The C-H activation of silyl ethers by means of rhodium carbenoid-induced C-H insertion represents a very direct method for the stereoselective synthesis of silyl-protected beta-hydroxy esters. The reaction can proceed with very high regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity and represents a surrogate to the aldol reaction. The reaction is catalyzed by the rhodium prolinate complex Rh(2)(S-DOSP)(4). A critical requirement for the high chemoselectivity is the use of donor/acceptor-substituted carbenoids such as those derived from methyl aryldiazoacetates. A range of silyl ethers may be used such as allyl silyl ethers, tetraalkoxysilanes, and even simple trimethylsilyl alkyl ethers. In general, C-H activation preferentially occurs at methylene sites, as the reactivity is controlled by a delicate balance between steric and electronic effects.

The synthesis of 4-carbomethoxy-4-methyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one (1) in 60% overall yield from benzaldehyde is described. Irradiation (366 nm) of 1 in benzene solution gave products of type A photorearrangement; e.g., diastereomers of the 4-(trimethylsilyl)- and 5-(trimethylsilyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ones 8 and 9. Bicyclohexenones 9a and 9b could not be isolated, but underwent acid-catalyzed protiodesilylative rearrangements on attempted chromatography (silica gel) to give a 1:1 mixture of (E)- and (Z)-4-(carbomethoxymethylmethylene)cyclopent-2-en-1-ones 12 and 13. Irradiation (366 nm) of either 12 or 13 resulted in photoisomerization to a photostationary state that was also a 1:1 mixture. Irradiation of 8a or 8b gave equivalent mixtures of phenols 14 and 15 by way of the type B oxyallyl zwitterion 17. The available experimental evidence suggests that both 9a and 9b undergo regiospecific photorearrangement to phenol 16 with no trace of 3-methyl-4-carbomethoxyphenol (19), the product of ipso substitution of the Me(3)Si group at C(4). Phenol 15 was isolated in 65% yield from the photoreaction of 1 in benzene with 20 equiv of CF(3)CO(2)H. The acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 1 to 3-carbomethoxy-4-methylphenol (21) occurs in 91% yield by way of CO(2)Me group rearrangement to C(3) to give the Me(3)Si-stabilized carbocation 23.