A simple high yield method for the preparation of a wide range of structurally diverse fulvenes is described. Pyrrolidine proves to be a very effective reagent to promote fulvene formation between cyclopentadiene and a host of carbonyl compounds including simple ketones, 4tetrahydrothiopyranone, 4tetrahydropyranone, aldehydes bearing acidic a hydrogens, sterically encumbered aldehydes, as well as optically pure tetrahydrofuranyl ...
