The reactions of diazomethane, diazoethane, and (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane with (S)-2-p-tolylsulfinylcyclopent-2-en-1-one have been studied. The sulfinyl group increases the reactivity and controls the π-facial and endo/exo selectivities. The π-facial selectivity can be inverted in the presence of Yb(OTf) 3 , which makes possible the stereodivergent synthesis of both diastereoisomeric pyrazolines. Completely stereoselective denitrogenation of optically pure pyrazolines into cyclopropanes was achieved under substoichiometric Yb(OTf) 3 catalysis.