Alkylidene transfer cyclopropane synthesis

Although the base-catalyzed addition of nitroalkanes to electron-deficient olefins has been extensively used in organic synthesis (see Michael addition Chapter 4), it is only recently that the reaction has been extended to the cyclopropanation reaction. In 1978, it was reported that the anion of nitromethane reacts with certain highly electron-deficient olefins to produce cyclopropanes in good yield (Eq. 7.36).36 More recently, this reaction has been extended to more general cyclopropanations, as shown in Eqs. 7.37 and 7.38, in which potassium salts of nitroalkanes are employed in DMSO as alkylidene transfer reagents.37-39... 

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