Spiroannulated cyclopropanes synthesis

Reductive dehalogenation is an efficient method of synthesis of cyclopropanes spiroannulated to five- and higher-membered carbocycles (i.e. compounds in which spiroannulation does not result in accumulation of extra strain) . The required gem-(dihalomethyl)cycloalkanes are usually prepared by halogenation of the precursor diols (equation 1). The cyclization is most efficiently accomplished in the Zn-alcohol-water system . For example, spiro[2.5]octane 7 was prepared in 91% yield using this procedure. This method is useful even for a one-step preparation of bis-spirocyclopropyl compounds as exemplified in equation 2. However, the application of the reductive dehalogenation method to the synthesis of more strained SPC (i.e. spirohexane or spiropentane) often leads to rearranged products. For example, methylenecyclopentane was the only product obtained from bis(bromomethyl)cyclobutane (equation 3) ... 

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