The ring-opening reaction of trans-2-aroyl-3-styrylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates was investigated with different Lewis acids. With SnCl, the cyclopropane dicarboxylates afforded cyclopentene derivatives through ring opening followed by cyclization (vinylcyclopropane-cyclopentene rearrangement). With TiCl, they furnished E,E-1,3-diene derivatives stereoselectively via ring opening followed by proton elimination.

The chemistry of donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes containing alkyl donors has been scantly investigated. In the present work, we have syntheszied new D-A cyclopropanes containing arylethyl donors and explored their reactivity...

The reaction of aroyl-substituted donor−acceptor (D−A) cyclopropanes with two equivalents of 1-naphthylamines in the presence of a catalytic amount of scandium(III) triflate provides access to dibenzo[c,h]acridines. The key steps of the transformation are the formation of nucleophilic ring-opening products from the D−A cyclopropanes and 1-naphthylamines and their subsequent fragmentation and cyclization. The method has a reasonable substrate scope, and the products are formed in 50−70% yields.

A (3 + 2) annulation of trans-2-aroyl-3-styrylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates with nitriles is reported for the diastereoselective synthesis of 5-vinyl-1-pyrroline derivatives in 60–88% yields.