Novel bis- and oligo-gem-difluorocyclopropanes have been synthesized based
on the olefin metathesis reaction protocol; the ruthenium catalyst coordina
ted with 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidenc and tricyclohexylphosp
hine ligands gave better results than the commercial Grubbs catalyst. Synth
eses of a tris-gem-difluorocyclopropane and three types of glycidyl-substit
uted difluorocyclopropanes have also been achieved. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien
ce B.V. All rights reserved.