From Cyclopropene to Housane Derivatives Via Intramolecular Cyclopropanation

Abstract The synthesis of housane derivatives from cyclopropenes is described. Under rhodium(II) catalysis, cyclopropenylvinyl carbinols can regioselectively generate a carbene intermediate which undergoes an intramolecular cyclopropanation to form a housane, a skeleton with similar ring strain as the cyclopropene precursor. The procedure shows a remarkable broad scope and efficiency. Moreover, the method served to prepare man‐made housane‐containing terpene derivatives, which are not accessible by Nature.