A short and stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted cyclopropanes from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide

The reaction of the α-sulfinyl carbanion of dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide with a variety of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave highly substituted cyclopropanes (up to five substituents) in good to high yields with high stereoselectivity.