Cobalt-Catalyzed Alkenylzincation of Unfunctionalized Alkynes

While transition metal catalyzed addition reactions of arylmetal reagents to unfunctionalized alkynes have been extensively developed in the last decade, analogous reactions using alkenylmetal reagents remain rare regardless of their potential utility for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-dienes. Reported herein is the development of a cobalt/diphosphine catalyst which promotes efficient and stereoselective addition of alkenylzinc reagents to unfunctionalized internal alkynes. The resulting dienylzinc species serve as versatile intermediates for further synthetic transformations.