Yet to be understood are what features on the metal complexes influence the diastereotopicity of these processes. The most commonly employed transition metals are derived from rhodium and copper. Yet to be examined is a systematic survey on achiral copper-mediated processes. This is the enantiocontrol. The diastereocontrol, formation of the next stereocenter, is poor.
Product analysis reveals the ester bearing carbon as the constant in overall stereoselectivity.
Control of the stereocenter adjacent to the ester is poor. Metal carbene technology is one of many catalytic methods available to the synthetic organic chemist which allows for complete control in product distribution and stereoselectivity based solely upon the catalyst employed. Of the numerous protocols available, catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions are best known for formal addition which occur to a carbon-carbon double bond. A total of five copper salts were subjected to standard diazo decomposition studies. Ethyl diazoacetate and styrene were selected as a metal carbene precursor and olefin, respectively.