| Abstract: | Reactions of η5-cyclopentadienylbis(triphenylphosphine)cobalt(I) (5) with several 2,n-alkadiynes (2) were investigated. Each of these reactions leads initially to a material in which one of the acetylene functional groups is π-coordinated to cobalt; this complex then undergoes conversion to a metallocycle. In cases where the two acetylene functions are connected by three- and four-carbon bridges (2b, 2c), metallocycles formed by intramolecular reaction of two acetylene functions in the same molecule may be isolated. In cases where the acetylene functions are joined by larger or smaller bridges, the reactions are more complex, and both inter- and intramolecular metallocycles are formed. Reactions of 5 with 1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,7-octadiyne (16) gives an isolable crystalline mono-acetylene complex (17), this material is stable in the solid state but undergoes conversion to metallocycle (18) in benzene solution. The relationship of these results to the mechanism of the CpCo(CO)2-catalyzed benzocycloalkene synthesis is discussed; it is suggested that intramolecular metallocycles are intermediates in reactions leading to benzocyclopentanes and -cyclohexenes, but intermolecular metallocycles are probably involved in reactions leading to benzocyclobutenes. |
