Scandium(III) Trifluoromethanesulfonate Catalyzed Selective Reactions of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with 1,1-Diphenylethanols: An Approach to Polysubstituted Olefins

An unexpected synthetic approach to polysubstituted olefins through the scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate catalyzed ring-opening reaction of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with 1,1-diphenylethanols was developed. The reactions, which are experimentally easy to handle, feature tolerance of various functional groups and mild reaction conditions. On the basis of experimental evidence, a plausible mechanism was also proposed.