Rhodium-stabilized carbenoids derived from aryldiazoacetates and vinyldiazo
acetates undergo highly chemoselective intermolecular cyclopropanations, an
d this selectivity has been quantified by a Hammett study. These donor/acce
ptor substituted carbenoids are much more chemoselective than the tradition
al carbenoids derived from alkyl diazoacetates. (C) 2000 Published by Elsev
ier Science Ltd.