Chiral dirhodium(II) compounds, Rh
2(O
2CR)
2(pc)
2 (pc = ortho-metalated arylphosphine),with a head-to-tail arrangement (
1-
21) are used in the cyclopropanation of
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-diazo ketones.The influence of catalyst ligands and substrate structure on enantioselectivity is studied.Temperature and solvent dependence assays are performed, the best ee values being obtainedin refluxing pentane. Results compare favorably with those reported in the literature usingRu, Cu, and other Rh(II) catalysts.