Cobalt-phosphite-catalyzed asymmetric Pauson-Khand reaction

Abstract

A complex formed from dicobalt octacarbonyl and a chiral aryl bisphosphite served as a catalyst for the intramolecular asymmetric Pauson-Khand reaction. Bicyclic cyclopentenones were obtained in up to 75% enantiomeric excess. For a terminal 1,6-enyne, the incremental enantiomeric excess was found to increase from 4 to 26% over the course of the reaction. The scope of this process was examined for a variety of 1,6- and 1,7-enynes, and a moderate degree of enantioselectivity was maintained only in the case of aryl-substituted 1,6-enynes.