Nucleophilic Carbenes Derived from Dichloromethane

Nickel PyBox catalysts promote nucleophilic cyclopropanation reactions using CH₂ Cl₂ as a methylene source and Mn as a stoichiometric reductant. The substrate scope includes a broad range of alkenes bearing electron-withdrawing substituents, including esters, amides, ketones, nitriles, sulfones, phosphonate esters, trifluoromethyl groups, and electron-deficient arenes. Enantioselective cyclopropanations of α,β-unsaturated esters have been developed using chiral PyBox ligands. Mechanistic studies suggest the intermediacy of a (PyBox)Ni=CH₂ species, which adds to the alkene by a stepwise [2+2]-cycloaddition/C-C reductive elimination mechanism. DFT models provide a rationale for the nucleophilic character of the nickel carbene and the sense of enantioinduction.