The Yb(OTf)3-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with thiourea offers an efficient route to diverse 2-amino-4,5-dihydrothiophenes (up to 92% yield), in which optically active 2-amino-dihydrothiophenes can be produced from enantiomerically pure cyclopropanes. Thiourea, which is an odorless and cheap reagent, provides a C
S double bond, serves as an amino source, and functions as a decarbalkoxylation reagent in this reaction. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrate that the reaction undergoes a sequential [3+2] cycloaddition/deamination/decarboxylation process.
![Graphical abstract: Thiourea participation in [3+2] cycloaddition with donor–acceptor cyclopropanes: a domino process to 2-amino-dihydrothiophenes](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C8CC09595G.jpg)