Asymmetric intermolecular cobalt-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction using a P-stereogenic bis-phosphane.

The asymmetric intermolecular and catalytic Pauson-Khand reaction has remained an elusive goal since Khand and Pauson discovered this transformation. Using a novel family of P-stereogenic phosphanes, we developed the first catalytic system with useful levels of enantioselection for the reaction of norbornadiene and trimethylsilylacetylene. The results demonstrate that Co-bisphosphane systems are sufficiently reactive and that they lead to high selectivity in the intermolecular process.