Ruthenium-Catalyzed Alkylation of Cyclopropanols with Sulfoxonium Ylides via C–C Bond Cleavage: Formation of Diverse 1,5-Diketones

Abstract A novel ruthenium-catalyzed alkylation of cyclopropanols with sulfoxonium ylides has been developed that affords diverse 1,5-diketones with good efficiency and broad substrate scope. To illustrate the synthetic applications of the obtained 1,5-diketones, aldol and cyclization reactions have been investigated. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that this process involves a sequential C–C activation and carbene migratory insertion.