Rhodium Porphyrin Catalyzed Regioselective Transfer Hydrogenolysis of C–C σ-Bonds in Cyclopropanes with ^<i>i</i>PrOH

Abstract

A new rhodium porphyrin catalyzed regioselective transfer hydrogenolysis of both activated and unactivated cyclopropanes employing iPrOH as the hydrogen source was discovered. The reaction mechanism for the C–C σ-bond activation of cyclopropanes was identified through an initial radical substitution with rhodium(II) metalloporphyrin radical to give a rhodium porphyrin alkyl, followed by hydrogenolysis with iPrOH to give the corresponding acyclic alkanes and regenerate rhodium(II) metalloporphyrin radical.