Methylenecyclopropanes 3-methylenecyclopentanecarboxylic

The nickel(0)-catalyzed codimerizations of methylenecyclopropane (26) or 2,2-dimethylmethylene-cyclopropane with the chiral derivatives of acrylic acid lead to optically active 3-methylenecyclopen-tanecarboxylic esters or amides (39 equation 16) in good yields (Table 3). When (-)-camphorsultam acrylate is used, 3-methylenecyclopentanecarboxylic amides are obtained in up to 98% de. °... 

A suitable approach to the synthesis of spiro[2.3]hexanes is the [2-1-2] cycloaddition of alkenes to the double bond of methylenecyclopropanes. This reaction is often described as a codimerization and usually requires catalysis by a nickel(O) complex such as bis(cycloocta-l,5-diene)nickel. l,l-Dimethyl-2-methylenecyclopropane reacts with alkyl acrylates to give a mixture of alkyl cis- and tranj-l,l-dimethylspiro[2.3]hexane-5-carboxylates 1 (19-40%) and alkyl 3,3-dimethyl-4-methylenecyclopentanecarboxylate 2 (60-81 %). The proportion of spiro [2.3]hexane derivative was highest when rer/-butyl acrylate was used as the activated alkene. 

Cycloaddition.2 In the presence of this nickel catalyst, methylenecyclo-propanes undergo an unusual cycloaddition across carbon-carbon double bonds. Thus methylenecyclopropane (1) when heated in a sealed tube (60°, 48 hrs.) with excess methyl acrylate in the presence of bis(acrylonitrile)nickel(0) gives the 1 1 adduct, methyl 3-methylenecyclopentanecarboxylate (2), in 82% yield. Methyl vinyl ketone or acrylonitrile is also a suitable substrate. The reaction provides a useful synthesis of methylenecyclopentane derivatives. 

Addition of cyclopropane to activated olefins to form cyclopentanes is catalyzed by a zero-valent nickel complex, S41. Thus methylenecyclopropane and methyl acrylate react in the presence of a catalytic amount of bis(acrylonitrile nickel) to give methyl 3-methylenecyclopentanecarboxylate in 82% yield. 

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