Singlet carbenes react stereospecifically with alkenes to give syn cyclopropanes.
Triplet carbenes, in contrast, give mixtures due to stepwise radical addition.
Step 1: Type of reaction.
A carbene (:CFCI) in the singlet state undergoes stereospecific cycloaddition to alkenes, forming cyclopropane derivatives.
Step 2: Mechanistic pathway.
- Singlet carbenes add to the same face of the double bond (syn addition).
- The product retains the stereochemistry of the alkene substituents.
- Here, isobutene reacts to form a cyclopropane ring substituted with –Cl and –F atoms on the same carbon. Step 3: Conclusion.
The major product corresponds to structure (A).