Answer to Question #283613 in Organic Chemistry for Reens

Question

Cycloaddition reaction of carbene generated by the photolysis of diazo methane in inert gas with cis-2-butene is not stereospecific. Explain with the help of steps involved in the reaction

Answer 1

The highly strained nature of cyclopropane compounds makes them very reactive and interesting synthetic targets. Additionally cyclopropanes are present in numerous biological compounds. One common method of cyclopropane synthesis is the reaction of carbenes with the double bond in alkenes or cycloalkenes. Methylene, H2C, is simplest carbene, and in general carbenes have the formula R2C. Other species that will also react with alkenes to form cyclopropanes but do not follow the formula of carbenes are referred to as carbenoids.