Bicyclo[n.1.1]alkyl skeletons are of significant interest as bioisosteres of phenyl groups for lead drug modification. Common strategies for their synthesis utilize bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, wherein the electron-withdrawing groups serve solely as activating groups to facilitate the cleavage of the bridged σ bond, leading to ring expansion by an insertion manner. Here, the authors utilize ketones in bicyclo[1.1.0]butane as both activating and reacting groups, promoting a tandem nucleophilic addition/intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination process by an exo-cyclic annulation manner.
- Junjie Ge
- Lihang Cao
- Hua Chen