A new type of donor-acceptor cyclopropane reactivity has been discovered. On treatment with anhydrous GaCl3 , they react as sources of even-numbered 1,2- and 1,4-dipoles instead of the classical odd-numbered 1,3-dipoles due to migration of positive charge from the benzyl center. This type of reactivity has been demonstrated for new reactions, namely, cyclodimerizations of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes that occur as [2+2]-, [3+2]-, [4+2]-, [5+2], [4+3]-, and [5+4]-annulations. The [4+2]-annulation of 2-arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates to give polysubstituted 2-aryltetralins has been developed in a preparative version that provides exceedingly high regio- and diastereoselectivity and high yields. The strategy for selective hetero-combination of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes was also been developed. The mechanisms of the discovered reactions involving the formation of a comparatively stable 1,2-ylide intermediate have been studied.

A new process for (4 + 2)-annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs) with unsaturated compounds in the presence of anhydrous GaCl3 has been developed. In this process, DACs act as sources of formal 1,2- and 1,4-dipoles to give polysubstituted tetralins in high yields and with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. Alkenes with both aryl and alkyl substituents at the double bond undergo this reaction equally readily. A most likely mechanism of the reaction has been proposed. It involves preliminary generation of a key 1,2-dipolar gallium complex and its subsequent participation in annulation with an alkene.

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