Ring expansion of spirocyclopropanes with stabilized sulfonium ylides: highly diastereoselective synthesis of cyclobutanes

Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 Apr 23;60(34):4537-4540. doi: 10.1039/d3cc06033k.

Abstract

A novel method was devised for regioselective ring expansion of Meldrum's acid-derived spirocyclopropanes to spirocyclobutanes with stabilized sulfonium ylides, affording 1,2-trans-disubstituted 6,8-dioxaspiro[3.5]nonane-5,9-diones in up to 87% yields without the formation of any isomers. The aforementioned reaction was also applied to the barbituric acid-derived spirocyclopropane, resulting in the formation of the corresponding cyclobutanes.