Simmons-Smith procedure ketones

The addition of a-lithiovinyltrimethylsilane 151 83), generated from a-bromovinyl-trimethylsilane84,) with r-BuLi (1.5 equivalents) at —78 °C in ether, to ketones and aldehydes was also investigated. The allylic alcohols 152 thus obtained underwent smooth cyclopropanation when the modified Simmons-Smith procedure utilizing EtZnI85) was applied. The cyclopropylcarbinols 153 were directly dehydrated without rearrangement upon exposure to catalytic amounts of p-TsOH in benzene at 20 °C to give 149 in yields of 52-75%, Eq. (48) 79,8L). 

Double cyclopropanation of enone silyl enol ethers by a modified Simmons-Smith procedure provides a good route to 1-cyclopropylcyclopropanols and to cyclopropyl ketones (Scheme... 

The Simmons-Smith reaction has been used as the basis of a method for the indirect a methylation of a ketone. The ketone (illustrated for cyclohexanone) is first converted to an enol ether, an enamine (16-12) or silyl enol ether (12-22) and cyclopropanation via the Simmons-Smith reaction is followed by hydrolysis to give a methylated ketone. A related procedure using diethylzinc and diiodomethane allows ketones to be chain extended by one carbon. In another variation, phenols can be ortho methylated in one laboratory step, by treatment with Et2Zn and... 

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