Opening of oxirane rings by the conjugate base of pentacarbonyl(methoxymethylcarbene)chromium in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate: a general and improved synthesis of pentacarbonyl(2-oxacyclopentylidene)chromium compounds

Abstract

A modified procedure for the synthesis of new pentacarbonyl(2-oxacyclopentylidene)chromium compounds is reported. Its application to optically pure epoxides allowed us to obtain the corresponding optically pure cyclic chromium carbene complexes. The oxidation of the (2-oxacyclopentylidene)pentacarbonyl-chromium compounds led to the corresponding substituted γ-butyrolactones. © 1991, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.