Recent publications from our laboratory have introduced a new general strategy for oxapolycyclic ring synthesis in which a rhodium (I1)-catalyzed tandem cyclization- cycloaddition reaction represents the central element.'For ongoing studies to further implement and develop this strategy, we required a general route to a-diazo 1, 3-diketones, which serve as the precursors for carbonyl ylide dipoles of type 2. Highly stabilized 6- ...
