Synthesis and reactivity of alkoxy-activated cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylates

Abstract

Donor–acceptor (DA) cyclopropanes are extensively studied and well established as building blocks for the synthesis of highly substituted carbo- and heterocyclic compounds. Despite of similar ring strain, the homologous DA cyclobutanes were long ignored. This personal account details our group's research towards the application of DA cyclobutanes in cycloaddition chemistry.