Asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanation of alkenes and N–H insertion of aminoesters by diazoacetylferrocene catalyzed by ruthenium and iron porphyrins

Abstract The asymmetric addition of diazoacetylferrocene to styrene derivatives to give optically active cyclopropyl acetylferrocenes (ee up to 96%) was carried out using chiral ruthenium porphyrins as homogeneous catalysts. Intermolecular N–H functionalization of anilines and amino esters by means of carbenoid-induced N–H insertion was also observed using tetraphenylporphyrin iron chloride as catalyst.