CpCo(III) Precatalysts for [2+2+2] Cycloadditions

Abstract

Catalysts applied in cobalt-catalyzed cyclotrimerizations reactions in general rely on the use of Co(I) precatalysts or the in situ generation of Co(I) catalysts from Co(II) sources by reduction in the presence of steering ligands, often by addition of less noble metals. In this paper, we report the synthesis and properties of novel stable CpCo(III) complexes as precatalysts and their exemplary evaluation for application in catalytic [2+2+2] cycloadditions. The role of phosphite neutral ligands, as well as iodide and cyanide as anionic ligands, on the reactivity of the complexes was evaluated. A modified one-pot approach to the synthesis of Cp ring-functionalized Cp’Co(III) complexes was developed. The investigations demonstrated that CpCo(III) complexes can be directly applied as catalysts in catalytic cyclotrimerizations of triynes without reducing agents as additives.