Chemistry Letters, Vol.35, No.3, 288-289, 2006
Activation of a cyclobutanone carbon-carbon bond over an aldehyde carbon-hydrogen bond in the rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylation
A rhodium(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex achieved a high-yield decarbonylation reaction of cyclobutanones to selectively afford cyclopropanes. With this catalyst, a cyclobutanone having an aldehyde moiety underwent chemoselective decarbonylation of the ketonic carbonyl group with the aldehydic carbonyl group left intact.