Rhodium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative [3+3+1] Cycloaddition of Biscyclopropanes with a Vinyl Substituent To Form Seven‐Membered Rings

Choose your catalyst wisely: Depending on the position of the cyclopropyl substituent on the bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-2-ene substrate, a different rhodium complex was used to catalyze the title reaction, which leads to bicyclic dienones in reasonable to excellent yields (see scheme). The products contain a highly substituted seven-membered ring with useful functionality for further manipulation. R1=H, Me; R2=H, Me, Ph; R3=Me, Et; X=NR, O.