Cyclopropanation of 2-arylmethylidenemalononitriles,alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates,and N-substituted 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enamides with bromine-containing zinc enolates

Zinc enolates derived from 2,2-dibromoindan-1-one and 2,2-dibromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-one reacted with 2-arylmethylidenemalononitriles, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates, and N-substituted 3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enamides to give, respectively, 3-aryl-1′-oxo-1′,3′-dihydrospirocyclopropane-1,2′-indene]-2-2-dicarbonitriles, 3-aryl-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spirocyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2,2-dicarbonitriles, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyano-1′-oxo-1′,3′-dihydrospirocyclopropane-1,2′-indene]-2-carboxylates, alkyl 3-aryl-2-cyano-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spirocyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2-carboxylates, and N-substituted 3-aryl-2-cyanol-1′-oxo-3′,4′-dihydro-1′H-spirocyclopropane-1,2′-naphthalene]-2-carboxamides as a single diastereoisomer. The stereoconfiguration of the products was determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.