Cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-hydrovinylation of styrenes and 1-aryl-1,3-butadienes.

The application of aryl-substituted starting materials such as styrene and 1-aryl-substituted 1,3-butadiene derivatives in the cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction has been investigated. The use of unsymmetrical alpha,omega-dienes in the hydrovinylation with 1-aryl-1,3-butadiene led chemoselectively to the 1:1 or the 1:2 adducts depending on the stoichiometry of the starting materials.