Samarium(II) iodide promoted reductive ring opening reaction of cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic esters. Synthesis of substituted 5-Pentanolides from carbonyl compounds and dimethyl cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate
Dimethyl cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate is readily subjected to reductive ring opening reaction with samarium(II) iodide in the presence of tris(dibenzoyl-methiodo)iron(III). The generated organosamarium intermediate is trapped by aliphatic ketones to afford 5,5-disubstituted 2-methoxycarbonyl-5-pentanolides.