cis-fused hexahydro-1-benzofuran-3(2H)-one or tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-3(3aH)-one ring systems was synthesized by the rhodium(II) acetate catalyzed reaction of alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds in the presence of various oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur nucleophiles. A double-nucleophilic addition was possible by using an excess of alpha-diazo ketone. These reactions proceeded with complete diastereoselectivity
Tandem cyclization–cycloaddition reactions of α-diazo ketones with macrocyclic olefins in the presence of rhodium(II) acetate catalyst led to the oxanorbornane fused macrocyclic di- or tetralactone ring systems in moderate yield. This forms the first example of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with a macrocyclic olefin as a dipolarophile, affording a variety of new oxanorbornane fused macrocycles