Enantioselectivity and cis/trans-Selectivity in Dirhodium(II)-Catalyzed addition of diazoacetates to olefins

The Rh¹¹-catalyzed carbenoid addition of diazoacetates to olefins was investigated with [Rh₂{(4S)-phox}₄] ( 1 ;phox = tetrakis[(4S)-tetrahydro-4-phenyloxazol-2-one]), [Rh₂{(2S)-mepy}₄] ( 2 ; mepy = tetrakis[methyl (2S)-tetrahydro-5-oxopyrrole-2-carboxylate]), and [Rh₂(OAc)₄] ( 3 ). While catalysis with 2 and 3 afford preferentially trans-cyclopropanecarboxylates, the cis-isomers are the major products with 1 . In general, the enantioselectivities achieved with 1 and 2 are comparable. Additions catalyzed by 1 are strongly sensitive to steric effects. Highly substituted olefins afford cyclopropanes in only poor yield. The preferential cis-selectivity observed in reactions catalyzed by 1 is attributed to dominant interactions between the ligand of the catalyst and the substituents of both olefin and diazoacetate, which overrule the steric interactions between olefin and diazoacetate in the transition state for carbene transfer.     

Carbenoid Reactions in Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Decomposition of Iodonium Ylides

The intermediacy of metallocarbenes in decomposition reactions of iodonium ylides with [Rh₂(OAc)₄] was established by comparison with reactions of the corresponding diazo compounds. The sensitivity of the Rh^II-catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropane formation from substituted styrenes and bis(methoxycarbonyl)(phenyliodono)methanide ( 1a ) or dimethyl diazomalonate ( 1b ) is identical. The Hammett plot (with σ⁺) has a slope of ?0.47. Iodonium ylides and diazo compounds afford the same products in [Rh₂(OAc)₄]-catalyzed cyclopropane formations, cycloadditions, and intramolecular CH insertions, and exhibit the identical selectivity in intramolecular competitions for cyclopropane formation and insertion. The intramolecular CH insertion of the ylide 20c , when carried out in the presence of a chiral catalyst ([Rh₂{(?)-(S)-ptpa}₄]), results in formation of 21a having an ee of 67%, identical to the ee obtained with the diazo compound 20b .     

Intramolecular Asymmetric Amidations of Sulfonamides and Sulfamates Catalyzed by Chiral Dirhodium(II) Complexes

Enantioselective intramolecular amidation of aliphatic sulfonamides was achieved for the first time by means of chiral carboxylatodirhodium(II) catalysts in conjunction with PhI(OAc)₂ and MgO in high yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 66% (Scheme 3, Table 1). The best results were obtained with [Rh₂{(S)‐nttl)₄] and [Rh₂{(R)‐ntv)₄] as catalysts ((S)‐nttl=(αS)‐α‐(tert‐butyl)‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐benz[de]isoquinoline‐2‐acetato, (R)‐nto=(αR)‐α‐isopropyl‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐benz[de] isoquinoline‐2‐acetato). In addition, these carboxylatodirhodium(II) catalysts were also efficient in intramolecular amidations of aliphatic sulfamates esters, although the enantioselectivity of these latter reactions was significantly lower (Scheme 4, Table 3).     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Amination of Thioethers with N‐Mesyloxycarbamates: DMAP and Bis(DMAP)CH2Cl2 as Key Additives

A stereoselective Rh‐catalyzed intermolecular amination of thioethers using a readily available chiral N‐mesyloxycarbamate to produce sulfilimines in excellent yields and diastereomeric ratio is described. A catalytic mixture of 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and bis(DMAP)CH₂Cl₂ proved pivotal in achieving high selectivity. The X‐ray crystal structure of the (DMAP)₂?[Rh₂{(S)‐nttl}₄] complex was obtained and mechanistic studies suggested a Rh^II‐Rh^III complex as the catalytically active species.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Inter‐ and Intramolecular Cyclopropanations with Diazo Compounds and Phenyliodonium Ylides: Synthesis and Chiral Analysis

Different classes of cyclopropanes derived from Meldrum's acid (=2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione; 4 ), dimethyl malonate ( 5 ), 2‐diazo‐3‐(silyloxy)but‐3‐enoate 16 , 2‐diazo‐3,3,3‐trifluoropropanoate 18 , diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate 24a , and diazo(dimethylphenylsilyl)acetate 24b were prepared via dirhodium(II)‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropanation of a set of olefins 3 (Schemes 1 and 4–6). The reactions proceeded with either diazo‐free phenyliodonium ylides or diazo compounds affording the desired cyclopropane derivatives in either racemic or enantiomer‐enriched forms. The intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetates 28, 30 , and 33 were carried out in the presence of the chiral dirhodium(II) catalyst [Rh₂{(S)‐nttl)₄}] ( 9 ) in toluene to afford the corresponding cyclopropane derivatives 29, 31 and 34 with up to 37% ee (Scheme 7). An efficient enantioselective chiral separation method based on enantioselective GC and HPLC was developed. The method provides information about the chemical yields of the cyclopropane derivatives, enantioselectivity, substrate specifity, and catalytic activity of the chiral catalysts used in the inter‐ and intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions and avoids time‐consuming workup procedures.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Chiral Bis(aminato)iridate(I) and Aminato‐Bridged Iridium(I) Complexes

The two dinuclear Ir^I complexes [Ir₂(μ‐Cl)₂ {(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}₂] ( 1 ; (R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂=(S)‐1‐(diphenylphosphino)‐2‐[(R)‐1‐(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]ferrocene and [Ir₂(μ‐Cl)₂{(R)‐binap}₂] ( 3 ; (R)‐binap=(R)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diylbis[diphenylphosphine]) smoothly react with 4 equiv. of the lithium salt of aniline to afford the new bis(anilido)iridate(I) (=bis(benzenaminato)iridate(1‐)) complexes Li[Ir(NHPh)₂{(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}] ( 4 ) and Li[Ir(NHPh)₂{(R)‐binap}] ( 5 ), respectively. The anionic complexes 4 and 5 react upon protonolysis to give the dinuclear aminato‐bridged derivatives [Ir₂(μ‐NHPh)₂{(R)‐(S)‐PPF‐PPh₂}₂] ( 6 ) and [Ir₂(μ‐NHPh)₂{(R)‐binap}₂] ( 7 ), which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. None of the new complexes 4 – 7 shows catalytic activity in the hydroamination of olefins.     

Stabilization of a Chiral Dirhodium Carbene by Encapsulation and a Discussion of the Stereochemical Implications

For the first time, the stereochemical course of an asymmetric cyclopropanation can be discussed on the basis of experimental structural information on a pertinent chiral dirhodium carbene intermediate. Key to success was the formation of racemic single crystals of a heterochiral [Rh₂{(S*)‐PTTL}₄{=C(Ar)COOMe}][Rh₂{(R*)‐PTTL}₄] (Ar=MeOC₆H₄; PTTL=N‐phthaloyl‐tert‐leucinate) capsule, which has been characterized by X‐ray diffraction. NMR spectroscopic data confirm that the obtained structural portrait is also relevant in solution and provide additional information about the dynamics of this species. The chiral binding pocket is primarily defined by the conformational preferences of the N‐phthaloyl‐protected amino acid ligands and reinforced by a network of weak interligand interactions that get stronger when chlorinated phthalimide residues are used.     

Parallel Kinetic Resolution Approach to the Cyathane and Cyanthiwigin Diterpenes Using a Cyclopropanation/Cope Rearrangement

Parallel effort : Stereodivergent parallel kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of dienes using Davies' [Rh₂{(S)‐dosp}₄] or [Rh₂{(R)‐dosp}₄] catalysts promotes a tandem vinyl diazoacetate cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement sequence to afford two diastereomeric, enantioenriched cycloheptadienes, which correspond to the natural antipodes of the title diterpenoids (see scheme).

     

Synthese und dynamisches Verhalten von [Rh2(μ-H)3H2(PiPr3)4]+. Beiträge zur Reaktivität des Tetrahydridodirhodium-Komplexes [Rh2H4(PiPr3)4]

Synthesis and Dynamic Behaviour of [Rh₂(μ-H)₃H₂(PiPr₃)₄]⁺. Contributions to the Reactivity of the Tetrahydridodirhodium Complex [Rh₂H₄(PiPr₃)₄] An improved synthesis of [Rh₂H₄(PiPr₃)₄] ( 2 ) from [Rh(η³-C₃H₅)(PiPr₃)₂] ( 1 ) or [Rh(η³-CH₂C₆H₅)(PiPr₃)₂] ( 3 ) and H₂ is described. Compound 2 reacts with CO or CH₃OH to give trans-[RhH(CO)(PiPr₃)₂] ( 4 ) and with ethene/acetone to yield a mixture of 4 and trans-[RhCH₃(CO)(PiPr₃)₂] ( 5 ). The carbonyl(methyl) complex 5 has also been prepared from trans-[RhCl(CO)(PiPr₃)₂] ( 6 ) and CH₃MgI. Whereas the reaction of 2 with two parts of CF₃CO₂H leads to [RhH₂(η²-O₂CCF₃) · (PiPr₃)₂] ( 8 ), treatment of 2 with one equivalent of CF₃CO₂H in presence of NH₄PF₆ gives the dinuclear compound [Rh₂H₅(PiPr₃)₄]PF₆ ( 9a ). The reactions of 2 with HBF₄ and [NO]BF₄ afford the complexes [Rh₂H₅(PiPr₃)₄]BF₄ ( 9b ) and trans-[RhF(NO)(PiPr₃)₂]BF₄ ( 11 ), respectively. In solution, the cation [Rh₂(μ-H)₃H₂(PiPr₃)₄]⁺ of the compounds 9a and 9b undergoes an intramolecular rearrangement in which the bridging hydrido and the phosphane ligands are involved.     

cis-Disubstituted Cyclopropanes via Asymmetric Catalytic Cyclopropenation: Synthesis of Cyclopropyl-dehydroamino Acids and of Dictyopterene C′

The cyclopropenation of diethoxypropyne ( 1 ) with methyl diazoacetate in the presence of [Rh₂{(2S)-mepy}₄] (mepy=methyl 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate) proceeds with >95% ee. The resulting cyclopropenecarboxylate 2 underwent stereoselective hydrogenation to the cis-cyclopropane 3 . Hydrolysis of the acetal function of 3 liberated the formyl cyclopropenecarboxylate 4 , which was transformed by Wittig reaction with the phosphonate 5 to afford dehydroamino acid 6 as a mixture of (Z)- and (E)-isomers in various proportions. The (Z)-isomer 6a was hydrolyzed, and the structure and the absolute configuration of the (Z)-dicarboxylic acid 7a were established by X-ray crystallography. The cis-divinylcyclopropane 11 (ee>95%), in turn, was synthesized from 4 via Wittig reaction to afford 8 , which was transformed to the aldehyde 10 and subjected to a second Wittig reaction. Thermolysis of 11 afforded (+)-dictyopterene C′ ( 12 ) in quantitative yield.     

Insight into the mechanism of diazocompounds transformation catalyzed by hetero cuboidal clusters [Mo3CuQ4(MeBPE)3X4]+, (Q = S,Se; X = Cl,Br): The catalytically active species

Two enantiomerically pure trinuclear compounds of formula (P)-[Mo₃S₄{(R,R)-Me–BPE}₃Br₃]Br and (P)-[Mo₃Se₄{(R,R)-Me–BPE}₃Cl₃]Cl, (P)-1b.Br and (P)-1c.Cl, respectively, have been synthesized in a good yield and a stereospecific manner by excision of polymeric [Mo₃Q₇X₄]_n (Q = S or Se, X = Cl or Br) phases with (R,R)-Me–BPE{1,2-bis[(2R,5R)-2,5-(dimethylphospholan-1-yl)]ethane}. They have been transformed into chiral hetereo cuboidal compounds [Mo₃S₄{(R,R)-Me–BPE}₃Br₃]PF₆, (P)-2b.PF₆, and [Mo₃Se₄{(R,R)-Me–BPE}₃Cl₃]PF₆, (P)-2c.PF₆, by reaction with copper salts. All these compounds have been characterized by ³¹P NMR, IR, UV–Vis, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and chiral dichroism. The catalytic potential of tetranuclear cuboidal compounds has been assessed in the paradigm intermolecular cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate. Results are compared with those obtained for the analogue [Mo₃S₄{(R,R)-Me–BPE}₃Cl₃]PF₆, (P)-2a.PF₆. The catalytic data demonstrate that the Se derivative (P)-2c.PF₆ is less reactive than the S analogues, but it leads to a similar product distribution as the sulfide analogue (P)-2a.PF₆. By contrast, exchange of chlorine by the bulky bromine gives rise to a catalyst which makes the carbene dimerization more competitive. These data agree with temporal breaking of one of the Cu–Q bonds to generate an active catalytic species.     

Diastereoselective rhodium-catalyzed nitrene transfer starting from chiral sulfonimidamide-derived iminoiodanes

The dirhodium-catalyzed aziridination of olefins with chiral sulfonimidamides as iminoiodane precursors has been investigated under stoichiometric conditions. Diastereoisomeric excesses of up to 82% have been achieved using [Rh₂{(S)-nttl}₄] as catalyst. Matching and mismatching effects were observed upon use of chiral rhodium(II) carboxylate catalysts.     

Oxidative and hydrolytic cleavage of cyclopropane and spirocyclobutane derivatives of 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane,the products of transformation of levoglucosenone

A new method for the synthesis of (1R,4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan2-one, the cyclopropane analog of (S)-5-hydroxypent-2-en-4-olide, has been suggested based on oxidation of (1S,2S,4R,6R)-7,9-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,4]nonan-5-one. Oxidation of cyclobutanones, spirojoined with the fragments of 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene, 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (at position 4), or 7,9-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,4]nonane (at position 5), upon the action of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid or the KMnO₄-H₂SO₄-H₂O system leads to the corresponding spirojoined butanolides in 73–85% yields. The same cyclobutanones easily undergo the four-membered ring opening upon the action of dilute H₂SO₄ at 50–90 °C to form 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-4- or 7,9-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,4]nonane-5-propionic acid.     

Enantioselective Formation of Bicyclic Lactones by Rhodium-Catalyzed Intramolecular CH-insertion reactions

The decomposition of cyclohexyl diazoacetate ( 5a ) in the presence of the chiral [Rh₂{(2S)-mepy}₄] catalyst leads to a 3:1 cis/trans mixture of bicyclic lactone 6a with an enantiomeric excess of 95–97% (cis) and 90% (trans). The conformationally rigid tert-butyl derivatives 5b and 5c afford, in the presence of the same catalyst, 6b and 6c , respectively, via insertion into the equatorial C? H bonds exclusively, with ee's of ca. 95%. A remarkable degree of induction (92–95%) results in the lactone 6g upon decomposition of 1-isopropyl-2-methylpropyl diazoacetate ( 5g ). The diazoacetates derived from 1-methylcyclohexanol, cyclopentanol and 1-methylcyclopentanol ( 5d–f ) afford under similar conditions insertion products with higher diastereoselectivity, but significantly lower enantioselectivity. Other dirhodium catalysts are less efficient.     

Breaking the Mirror: pH‐Controlled Chirality Generation from a meso Ligand to a Racemic Ligand

To study the conversion from a meso form to a racemic form of tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acid (H₄L), seven novel coordination polymers were synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂ ? 6 H₂O with (2S,3S,4R,5R)‐H₄L in the presence of 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), 2,2′‐bipyridine (2,2′‐bpy), or 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy): [Zn₂{(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(phen)₂(H₂O)] ? 2 H₂O ( 1 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L}(phen)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 2 ), [Zn₂{(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(H₂O)₂] ? H₂O ( 3 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L} (2,2′‐bpy)₂(H₂O)₂] ? 2 H₂O ( 4 ), [Zn₂ {(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(2,2′‐bpy)(H₂O)] ( 5 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L} (4,4′‐bpy)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 6 ), and [Zn₂ {(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(4,4′‐bpy)(H₂O)] ? 2 H₂O ( 7 ). These complexes were obtained by control of the pH values of reaction mixtures, with an initial of pH 2.0 for 1 , 2.5 for 2 , 4 , and 6 , and 4.5 for 3 , 5 , and 7 , respectively. The expected configuration conversion has been successfully realized during the formation of 2 , 4 , and 6 , and the enantiomers of L, (2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L and (2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L, are trapped in them, whereas L ligands in the other four complexes retain the original meso form, which indicates that such a conversion is possibly pH controlled. Acid‐catalyzed enol–keto tautomerism has been introduced to explain the mechanism of this conversion. Complex 1 features a simple 1D metal–L chain that is extended into a 3D supramolecular structure by π–π packing interactions between phen ligands and hydrogen bonds. Complex 2 has 2D racemic layers that consist of centrosymmetric bimetallic units, and a final 3D supramolecular framework is formed by the interlinking of these layers through π–π packing interactions of phen. Complex 3 is a 3D metal–organic framework (MOF) involving meso‐L ligands, which can be regarded as (4,6)‐connected nets with vertex symbol (4⁵.6)(4⁷.6⁸). Complexes 4 and 5 contain 2D racemic layers and (6,3)‐honeycomb layers, respectively, both of which are combined into 3D supramolecular structures through π–π packing interactions of 2,2′‐bpy. The structure of complex 6 is a 2D network formed by 4,4′‐bpy bridging 1D tubes, which consist of metal atoms and enantiomers of L. These layers are connected through hydrogen bonds to give the final 3D porous supramolecular framework of 6 . Complex 7 is a 3D MOF with novel (3,4,5)‐connected (6³)(4².6⁴)(4².6⁶.8²) topology. The thermal stability of these compounds was also investigated.     

Dirhodium(II) Compounds with Bridging Thienylphosphines: Studies on Reversible P,C/P,S Coordination

Monocyclometalated compound [Rh₂{(C₈H₄S)P(C₈H₅S)₂}(CH₃CO₂H)₂(O₂CCH₃)₃] ( 1 a ) and bis‐cyclometalated compound [Rh₂{(C₈H₄S)P(C₈H₅S)₂}₂(CH₃CO₂H)₂(O₂CCH₃)₂] ( 2 a ) have been isolated from the reaction of dirhodium tetraacetate and tris(2‐benzo[b]thienyl)phosphine ( 2 BTP ) using low acidic solutions. By contrast, in pure acetic acid the reaction of Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₄ with 2 BTP and tris(2‐thienyl)phosphine ( 2 TP ), followed by replacement of the axial acetate ligands by chlorides, led to [Rh₂{(2‐C₈H₅ S )P(2‐C₈H₅S)₂}₂Cl₂(O₂CCH₃)₂] ( 3 b ) and [Rh₂{(2‐C₄H₃ S )P(C₄H₃S)₂}₂Cl₂(O₂CCH₃)₂] ( 5 b ), respectively. These new dirhodium(II) compounds possess equatorial bridging ligands in a phosphorous–sulfur (P,S) coordination mode. The reversible switching between the P,C and P,S bonding mode of the phosphine has been studied in the monocyclometalated [Rh₂{(C₄H₂S)P(C₄H₃S)₂}(CH₃CO₂H)₂(O₂CCH₃)₃] ( 6 a ), which was selectively transformed into compound [Rh₂{(2‐C₄H₃ S )P(C₄H₃S)₂}(CF₃SO₃)(CH₃CO₂H)(O₂CCH₃)₃] ( 7 c ) in triflic acid media. Remarkably, compound 7 c reverts to the starting compound 6 a upon treatment with sodium acetate. Theoretical DFT calculations for both the P,C/P,S rearrangement and the base‐promoted reversion have been performed to explain the experimental findings. Data suggest the P,C/P,S rearrangement occurs by means of a “concerted protonation–demetalation mechanism” followed by η² coordination of the thienyl ring and subsequent isomerization to the S‐η¹‐coordination mode. In the reversion reaction, the base coordinated at the axial position would promote a concerted metalation–deprotonation mechanism.     

Synthesis and Thermal Rearrangement of Tetramethyldisilane-bridged Bis(cyclopentadienyl) Diiron Complexes with Bis(phosphine)Substitution

Photolysis of [Me2SiSiMe2)[C5H4Fe(CO2)]2with a series of bis(phosphine)ligands Ph2P(CH2)n PPh2(n=1-4) leads to the formation of the corresponding diiron complexes with intramolecular and intermolecular bis(phosphine) substitution.When these complexes were heated in refluxing xylene.only in the complexes with intermolecular bis(phosphine )substitution the thermal rearrangement reaction occurred.     

Precursor of a β‐lactamase inhibitor: allyl (4S,8S,9R)‐10‐[(E)‐ethyl­idene]‐4‐methoxy‐11‐oxo‐1‐aza­tri­cyclo­[7.2.0.03,8]­undec‐2‐ene‐2‐carboxyl­ate

The molecular structure of the title tricyclic compound, C₁₇H₂₁NO₄, which is the immediate precursor of a potent synthetic inhibitor {Lek157: sodium (8S,9R)‐10‐[(E)‐ethyl­idene]‐4‐methoxy‐11‐oxo‐1‐aza­tri­cyclo­[7.2.0.0^3,8]­undec‐2‐ene‐2‐carboxyl­ate} with remarkable potency, provides experimental evidence for the previously modelled relative position of the fused cyclo­hexyl ring and the carbonyl group of the β‐lactam ring, which takes part in the formation of the initial tetrahedral acyl–enzyme complex. In this hydro­phobic mol­ecule, the overall geometry is influenced by C—H?O intramolecular hydrogen bonds [3.046 (4) and 3.538 (6) Å, with corresponding normalized H?O distances of 2.30 and 2.46 Å], whereas the mol­ecules are interconnected through intermolecular C—H?O hydrogen bonds [3.335 (4)–3.575 (5) Å].     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen von (PPh4)2[TeS3] · 2 CH3CN und (PPh4)2[Te(S5)2]

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of (PPh₄)₂[TeS₃] · 2 CH₃CN and (PPh₄)₂[Te(S₅)₂] (PPh₄)₂[TeS₃] · 2 CH₃CN was obtained by the reaction of PPh₄Cl, Na₂S₄ and Te in acetonitrile. With sulfur it reacts yielding (PPh₄)₂[Te(S₅)₂]. The crystal structures of both products were determined by X-ray diffraction. (PPh₄)₂[TeS₃] · 2 CH₃CN: triclinic, space group P1 , Z = 2, R = 0.041 for 4 629 reflexions; it contains trigonal-pyramidal [TeS₃]^2? ions with an average Te? S bond length of 233 pm. (PPh₃)₂[Te(S₅)₂]: monoclinic, P2₁/n, Z = 2, R = 0.037 for 2 341 reflexions. In the [Te(S₅)₂]^2? ion the tellurium atom has a nearly square coordination by four S atoms. Along with the Te atoms each of the two S₅ groups forms a ring with chair conformation.     

Reactions of zinc enolates derived from α,α-dibromo carbonyl compounds with 3-(2-oxo-4a,8a-dihydro-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)chromen-2-one

Zinc enolates derived from 1-R-2,2-dibromoethanone reacted with 3-(2-oxo-4a,8a-dihydro-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)chromen-2-one to give the corresponding 1-R-1a-{(1-R-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H]-ones as a single diastereoisomer with cis arrangement of the hydrogen atoms with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane. Reactions of the same electrophilic substrate with zinc enolates obtained from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanones led to the formation of 1-alkyl-1a-{(1-alkyl-1-aroyl-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1-aroyl-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H)-ones as a single diastereoisomer with trans arrangement of the alkyl group and hydrogen atom with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane.