Catalytic intramolecular decarbonylative coupling of 3-aminocyclobutenones and alkenes: a unique approach to [3.1.0] bicycles

Here we describe a rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular decarbonylative coupling between 3-aminocyclobutenones and alkenes for synthesis of substituted [3.1.0] bicycles. This transformation represents a formal cyclopropanation reaction, in which the cyclobutenones serve as a one-carbon-unit synthon.