Dicyano-2-methylenebut-3-enoates

Under argon atmosphere, to a solution of 4,4-dicyano-2-methylenebut-3-enoate la (26mg, 0.1 mmol) in toluene (l.OmL) was added PPhj (32mg, 0.12mmol) at room temperature. Then the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature until the reaction was complete (monitoring by TLC). Then the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by a flash column chromatography to afford the addition products. 

The phosphine (127)-catalysed asymmetric 4 +1-cycloaddition reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with dicyano-2-methylenebut-3-enoates formed highly functionalized cyclopentenes in high yields and excellent ee% The [RuCl(CO)2]2-catalysed 4 + 1-cycloaddition reaction of alkenyl propargyl acetates, RCH(OAc)C=CC(Me)=CH2, with CO in CH2CI2 produced highly functionalized cyclopentenones in high yields (96%). The chiral copper/Tol-BINAP complex... 

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