Donor-substituted nitrocyclopropanes: immediate ring-enlargement to cyclic nitronates.

The reaction of donor-substituted alkenes with α-diazo-α-nitro ethyl acetate under Rh catalysis was investigated; respective nitrocyclopropanes with a geminal ester functionality were generated in situ. Strong electron donors immediately led to ring-enlargement. In all cases, the nitro group was inserted forming cyclic nitronates whereas the ester moiety was not incorporated into the ring system. DFT studies revealed that the formation of cyclic nitronates is kinetically as well as thermodynamically favored over the formation of cyclic ketene acetals.