Decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of copper, copper acetylacetonate, or copper trifluoroacetylacetonate and ethyl 4-[2-(R-imino)phenoxymethyl]-2-butenoate leads to formation of chromeno-[4,3-b]pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives. The reactions involve intermediate formation of azomethine ylides which undergo regio- and stereoselective intramolecular cycloaddition at the C=C bond to afford chromeno[4,3-b]pyrroles. The steric structure of the product depends on the configuration of intermediate ylide and nature of the substituent at the ylide nitrogen atom.