A cobalt-phosphine complex as mediator in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00080a001

The tetrakis(trimethylphospine)cobalt(0) complex, [Co{P(CH₃)₃}₄], in either stoichiometric or catalytic amounts, was shown to be an efficient mediator for a one-pot Reformatsky-type reaction between activated halogen derivatives (esters, amides, lactones) and carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones) to produce a variety of alcohols.