Reaction of magnesium cyclopropylidene with N-lithio arylamines: a method for generation of α-amino-substituted cyclopropylmagnesiums and a study for their reactivity with electrophiles

Abstract Magnesium cyclopropylidene was generated from 1-chlorocyclopropyl phenyl sulfoxide with i -PrMgCl in THF at −78 °C in high yield by a sulfoxide–magnesium exchange reaction. The generated magnesium cyclopropylidene was found to be reactive with N -lithio arylamines to give α-amino-substituted cyclopropylmagnesiums. The reaction of the α-amino-substituted cyclopropylmagnesiums with several electrophiles was examined and a new method for a synthesis of cyclopropane amino acid derivatives was realized.