PtCl₂-Mediated Cyclopropane Opening: A Mechanistic Study

Abstract

The platinum-mediated cyclopropane opening of [4 + 2 + 2] homo Diels–Alder cycloadducts has been probed through deuterium-labeling studies. The location of the deuterium in the olefinic products strongly supports an α-elimination mechanism that proceeds through a platinum carbene intermediate. Kinetic isotopic effects provide additional insights into the reaction mechanism, lending support to the platinum carbene formation as the rate-determining step.