Stereoselective Synthesis of Polysubstituted Cyclopropanes from Poly(ethylene glycol) Supported Pyridinium Ylide

Polysubstituted cyclopropanes were efficiently prepared with poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) as soluble support. The reaction of PEG-supported pyridinium ylide with arylidenemalononitrilc(R=CN) or ethyl arylidenecyanoacetate(R=COOEt) in the presence of triethylamine(TEA) afforded PEG-supported cyclopropanecarboxylates, which were cleaved by 1% KCN/EtOH to obtain polysubstituted cyclopropanes with exclusive trans-selectivity and good yields.