Tetrahydrofuran as an one-electron donor: Highly diastereoselective coupling of cobalt-complexed propargyl alcohol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(97)00286-6

A novel one-step reductive dimerization of Co-complexed propargyl alcohol 5 has been developed producing dl- and meso-(3,4-diphenyl-1,5-hexadiyne)-bis-dicobalt hexacarbonyl (8,9) with unprecedented diastereoselectivity of 90%. A tandem action of a variety of one-electron/hydride ion donors and Broensted Lewis acids has been tested both in one- and two-step methods with the latter including the isolation of propargyl cation 1.