Insights on Rh(II) carbenoid reactivity

A computational study on a range of Rh(II) carbenoids shows how carbenoid stability and cyclopropanadon diastereoselectivity can be affected by certain properties of the carbenoid substituents. The results of the study imply that substituents capable of pi-interactions are stabilising and cis-directing, and that the trans-directing abilities are affected by steric effects as well as the polarity of carbonyl groups. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.