[reaction: see text] The TiCl4-mediated reaction of an ester with benzoyl chloride results in high yields of the alpha-benzoylated ester. Diazo transfer of the benzoylated ester utilizing p-acetoamidobenzenesulfonyl azide affords the alpha-diazo ester in good yield. Using this simplified procedure, it is easy to prepare gram quantities of alpha-diazo esters.

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The preparation of alkenyl cyclopropanes 1 with a variety of common organic functionalities is reported. These substrates were subjected to the Fe(CO)(5)-mediated carbonylation process under a CO atmosphere, leading to the formation of 2,5-disubstituted cyclohexenones 2, important intermediates for target-directed synthesis.

The preparation and Rh-mediated cyclization of the alpha-diazoester 1 are outlined, and its utility in determining the elements that contribute to the reactivity of the intermediate Rh-carbenoid is presented. The rate of disappearance of diazo ester 1 catalyzed by several representative Rh(II) complexes was determined. The observed relative rate constants for the reaction of the Rh(II) complexes with 1 varied over a range of >10(7). The reactivity of the Rh-carbenoid intermediate was explored using the ratio of the sum of (3 + 4 + 5) to 2 (cyclization vs elimination), the ratio of 3 to the sum of (4 + 5) (chemoselectivity), and the ratio of 4 to 5 (diastereoselectivity). It is striking that these four measures of reactivity were found to be independent of each other.

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