Chiral l-N,N'-bis(2,6-dichloro-benzy-lidene)-2,2'-diamine (1) was foun
d to be an effective ligand for the copper-catalyzed enantioselective
cyclopropanation of olefin with l-menthyl diazoacetate. For example, t
he reaction of 1,1-diphenylethylene with l-menthyl diazoacetate in the
presence of CuOTf-1 complex in CH2Cl2 at - 40 degrees C gave the corr
esponding cyclopropanecarboxylate in 98% ee.