Volume 88, Issue 6 pp. 1357-1374
Review

Catalytic Decomposition of Diazo Compounds as a Method for Generating Carbonyl-Ylide Dipoles

Albert Padwa

Albert Padwa

Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA (phone: +1 404-727-0283; fax: +1 404-727-6629)

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First published: 21 June 2005
Citations: 120

Abstract

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α-diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well-precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium-mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal–carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.

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