Alkylidenecyclopropanes more readily undergo C-C bond oxidative addition than cyclopropanes.
Following oxidative addition, 1,2-insertion mechanisms are common and reductive elimination yields the desired product. The 1,2-insertion step usually occurs with an alkyne, alkene, or allene and the final product is often a 5 or 7 membered ring. Six-membered rings may be formed after dimerization of the metallocyclobutane intermediate with another alkylidenecyclopropane substrate and subsequent reductive elimination. Common transition metals utilized with alkylidenecyclopropanes are nickel, rhodium, and palladium. It has been shown that the metallacyclobutane intermediate following oxidative addition to the distal C-C bond can isomerize.