Alkenes undergo smooth cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate using a catalytic amount of Cu-exchanged phosphotungestic acid (Cu-TPA) in dichloromethane under mild reaction conditions to afford cyclopropanecarboxylates in high yields with moderate selectivity. The catalyst is recycled and reused for three to four subsequent runs with a minimal decrease of activity. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.