Enantioselective Synthesis of α‑Aryl-β-Aminocyclopropane Carboxylic Acid Derivatives via Rh(II)-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Vinylsulfonamides with α‑Aryldiazoesters

The reaction of vinylsulfonamides with donor–acceptor carbenes derived from α-aryldiazoesters, catalyzed by the tert-butyl glycine-derived dirhodium complex Rh2(S-4-Br-NTTL)4, has been reported. This method provides a variety of α-aryl-β-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives bearing one quaternary carbon stereogenic center vicinal to the amino-substituted carbon in high yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Vinylsulfonamides showed complementary advantages over the well-developed vinylamides or vinylcarbamates for this Rh­(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation strategy. Moreover, these conformationally restricted α-aryl-β-aminocyclopropyl carboxylic acid derivatives can be readily incorporated into dipeptides.