The
generation of metal carbenoids via ring opening of cyclopropenes
by transition metals offers a simple entry into highly reactive intermediates.
Herein, we describe a diastereoselective intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed
cyclopropanation of heterocycles and alkenes using cyclopropenes as
carbene precursors with a low loading of a commercially available
rhodium catalyst. The reported method is scalable and could be performed
with catalyst loadings as low as 0.2 mol %, with no impact to the
reaction yield or selectivity.