Low-valent complexes of cobalt and phosphorus donor ligands as mediators in Reformatsky-type reactions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(95)05468-5

A series of low-valent cobalt complexes of mono- and poly-dentate phosphorus donors (phosphines and phosphinites) was screened for effectiveness as mediators of the Reformatsky-type addition of benzaldehyde and tert-butyl α-bromoacetate in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature.The results are discussed in terms of the donor properties of the ligands and reactant ratios.With the triphenylphosphine-cobalt 2:1 system, the reaction gave addition product in high yields and excellent purity, providing a convenient alternative to the classical Reformatsky reaction.Keywords: Cobalt, Reformatsky reaction, Phosphine complexes