Vitamin B12–Photocatalyzed Cyclopropanation of Electron-Deficient Alkenes using Dichloromethane as the Methylene Source

The cyclopropyl group is of great importance in medicinal chemistry, as it can be leveraged to influence a range of pharmaceutical properties in drug molecules. This report describes a Vitamin B12-photocatalyzed approach for the cyclopropanation of Michael acceptors using CH2Cl2 as the methylene source. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields under mild conditions, has excellent functional group compatibility, and is highly regioselective. The scope could also be extended to the preparation of D2-cyclopropyl and methyl-substituted cyclopropyl adducts starting from CD2Cl2 and 1,1-dichloroethane, respectively.