Rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of cyclopropenes.

The first catalytic diastereo- and enantioselective hydroformylation of cyclopropenes was demonstrated. The reaction proceeds efficiently under very mild conditions and low catalyst loadings providing high yields of cyclopropylcarboxaldehydes. This novel methodology represents a convenient, atom-economic approach toward optically active cyclopropylcarboxaldehydes from readily available prochiral cyclopropenes.