Cobalt-mediated [3 + 2]-annulation reaction of alkenes with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and imines.

The utility of cobalt dinitrosyl complexes for the [3 + 2] annulation of alkenes with unsaturated enones and ketimines has been demonstrated. Reaction of a series of cobalt dinitrosyl/alkene adducts with conjugate acceptors in the presence of Sc(OTf)(3)/LHMDS formed two new C-C bonds at the carbons alpha to the nitrosyl groups of the substrate, leading to unusual tri- and tetracycles. Retrocycloaddition of these products in the presence of norbornadiene yielded functionalized tetrasubstituted bicyclic olefins.