The interaction of diazomalonic esters with olefins in the presence of homogeneous copper(I) and copper(II) catalyst has been examined as a function of olefin structure, solvent media, ionic strength, catalyst structure and catalyst concentration, using partial rate data. It has been possible to determine the fine mechanistic details of the cycloproponation, C-H insertion and dimer forming reactions. The initial step is displacement of a ligand from copper by diazo compound in a pre-equilibrium, loss of nitrogen in the rate determining step, return of the ligand, displacement of metal from the carbenoid by olefin, followed by collapse to products. Studies revealed the intimate involvement of catalyst with olefin as well as carbene --Abstract, page ii
