Recent progress in insertion and cyclopropanation reactions of metal carbenoids from α-diazocarbonyl compounds

Abstract

Metal–carbenoids from α-diazocarbonyl compounds are well-known reactive intermediates with a long history of useful applications in synthetic organic chemistry. The carbenoids, generated in situ from the catalytic decomposition of α-diazocarbonyls, react by different pathways such as insertions, cyclopropane formation, and cycloadditions of ylides, etc. in inter- and intramolecular versions of the reactions. These reactions have been employed in the architecture of several complex molecules of natural origin. The present review paper discusses the recent progress in catalytic insertion (X–H: X = C, N, O, S, Si, and B), and cyclopropane-forming reactions of α-diazocarbonyl compounds with a focus on regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective reactions.