Synthesis of cyclopropanes by Pd-catalyzed activation of alkyl C–H bonds

A novel synthesis of cyclopropanes has been developed via palladium-catalyzed C–H activation in which two new carbon–carbon bonds are formed in a single step. This method involves palladium-catalyzed activation of normally unreactive secondary alkyl C–H bonds and provides an efficient way to access cyclopropapyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles, analogues of mitomycin and cyclopropamitosenes.