Reactions of carbenes (Alkene insertion – Singlet v Triplet)

Carbenes react with alkenes to give cyclopropanes. This reaction is the most important way of making cyclopropanes, and is probably the most important reaction of carbenes. The mechanism of this reaction depends on whether the carbene is a singlet or a triplet. Select the links below to view alkene insertion reactions using both singlet and triplet carbenes:

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P. de Frémont, N. Marion and S. P. Nolan, Coord. Chem. Rev., 2009, 253, 862–892.