Enantioselective homoallyl-cyclopropanation of dibenzylideneacetone by modified allylindium halide reagents-rapid access to enantioenriched 1-styryl-norcarene

Methyl mandelate has been identified as a simple and inexpensive stoichiometric asymmetric modifier for the homoallyl-cyclopropanation of dibenzylideneacetone. Subsequent Ru-cat. RCM provides rapid entry to enantiomerically enriched 1-styryl-norcarene.