Highly enantioselective cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins

A highly efficient asymmetric cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins with methyl diazoacetate has been developed in terms of an elaborate modified chiral bisoxazoline/copper complex as a catalyst. A broad scope of substrates is compatible with this catalyst system, including various trisubstituted olefins bearing different aryl-, fused aryl- and alkyl-substituents, providing an easy access to optically active 1,1-dimethyl cyclopropanes in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantio-selectivity.