Dicarbenes. Dicarbenoid species from the reaction of 1,3-Bis(diazomethyl)benzene with zinc halides

Abstract

The reaction of 1,3-bis(diazomethy1)benzene with zinc halides in diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran gave dicarbenoid intermediates which could be trapped by olefins to give moderate yields of dicyclopropylderivatives. Insertion into a-C-H bonds of the ethereal solvents occurs in the absence of olefins. The dicarbenoid species m-C₆H₄(CHIZnI)₂ in tetrahydrofuran was found to have a half-life of about 4h at 0°C.