Correlation between catalytic cyclopropanation and ylide generation

A linear correlation for catalytic effectiveness exists between cyclopropanation of n-butyl vinyl ether and ylide generation with allyl methyl sulfide in reactions with ethyl diazoacetate. Twenty-two representative transition metal compounds have been examined, and ruthenium is identified for the first time to exhibit catalytic potential comparable to copper and rhodium catalysts for carbene transformations.