Sulfur‐Directed Construction of Vinyl Cyclopropanes from 1,3‐Dienes

A Anna Keimer (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany) J Jonas Rettig (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany) T Tim‐Niclas Streit (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany) B Bob Barthel (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany) M Mélissa Calmels (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany) M Moritz Malischewski (Institut für Chemie und Biochemie − Anorganische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstr. 34-36, Berlin 14195, Germany) F Franz‐Lucas Haut (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The stereoselective cyclopropanation of 1,3‐dienes remains a long‐standing challenge in the preparation of vinyl cyclopropanes (VCPs) due to the intrinsic electronic and steric bias of the diene scaffold. We report a sulfur‐directed strategy that enables highly site‐ and diastereoselective cyclopropanation of S ‐substituted 1,3‐dienes with diazo reagents under Cu‐catalyzed reaction conditions. This unprecedented approach overrides the innate reactivity of the 1,3‐diene through a thioether‐directed reaction mode, providing rapid access to a broad library of highly functionalized S ‐VCPs obtained as single regio‐ and diastereomers. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate a pericyclic cascade involving a 6π‐electrocyclization and a [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement and postmodifications permit streamlined access to complex VCPs that remain inaccessible through conventional cyclopropanation techniques.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 25
Published June 15, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

A

Anna Keimer

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

J

Jonas Rettig

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

T

Tim‐Niclas Streit

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

B

Bob Barthel

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

M

Mélissa Calmels

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

M

Moritz Malischewski

Institut für Chemie und Biochemie − Anorganische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstr. 34-36, Berlin 14195, Germany

F

Franz‐Lucas Haut

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany