Selective Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage of Cyclopropanols

The carbon–carbon (C–C) bond cleavage of cyclopropanols is a wide area of research with much current activity. This review highlights new developments in this area over the past two decades. A summary is made of the three main reactivity modes, namely, homoenolate chemistry, β-keto radical chemistry, and acid-catalyzed ring-opening, as well as all other methods for the C–C bond cleavage and functionalization of cyclopropanols, including base-mediated ring-opening, metal-catalyzed C–C insertions and eliminations, oxidative fragmentation using hypervalent iodine reagents, reactions of donor–acceptor cyclopropanols, and pericylic reactions. Emphasis is placed on the synthetic utility of cyclopropanols and related derivatives, which have emerged as unique three-carbon synthons.