A reapproach to the generation and reaction mechanism of cyclopropylidenes

By the comparison of the reaction products of gem-dihalocyclopropanes under various conditions, it is suggested that similar to the reactions with metals, the reactive radical intermediates which make the reaction results complicated are formed in the reactions of gem-dihalocyclopropanes with alkyl lithium. Studies on the competitions between ring opening and intramolecular C—H insertions of cyclopropylidenes generated by the reactions of gem-dihalocyclopropanes with metals and discussions on the reaction mechanism are also given in this paper.