Cobalt-catalyzed carbonylative cycloaddition of substituted diynes to access complexed polycyclic compounds

Abstract

A cobalt-catalyzed domino Pauson–Khand and [4 + 2] cycloaddition of substituted diynes has been developed for the rapid construction of complexed polycyclic ring systems. Using benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate (TFBen) as the CO source, the reaction proceeded well to give various tetracyclic compounds bearing two new quaternary carbon cores in high yields with excellent regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. Control experiments were performed to gain a better understanding of the reaction mechanism.