Highly chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular coupling of diazoacetates to give cis-olefins by using Grubbs second-generation catalyst.

Highly stereoselective formation of cis-2-ene-1,4-diesters by homo- and heterocoupling of alpha-diazoacetates in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst is demonstrated. The dual reactivity of the catalyst in alkene metathesis and diazocoupling has been exploited in the synthesis of 12-26-membered macrocyclic dienyl dilactones by one-pot carbene dimerisation/ring-closing metathesis.