The Reactions of Diazoacetic Esters with Alkenes, Alkynes, Heterocyclic and Aromatic Compounds

Abstract

After the first unsuccessful attempt of Curtius in 1884 to affect the reaction of ethyl diazoacetate with toluene other researchers studied the reaction. Later, Buchner and Curtius treated several aromatic, olefinic, and acetylenic compounds with diazoacetic esters to form cyclopropanes. Since then the reactions of diazoacetates with various unsaturated compounds have been studied. The carbalkoxy carbenes are of interest since they are believed to be intermediates in higher temperature thermal and photochemical reactions of diazoacetates. Keywords: diazoacetic esters; alkenes; alkynes; hetercyclic compounds; aromatic compounds; benzene; derivatives; stereochemistry; polynuclear aromatics; experimental conditions; preparation