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Synlett 2002(9): 1558-1559
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-33525
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Dicobalt Octacarbonyl

Stefan Fischer*
Fachbereich Chemie, Universitiät Konstanz, Fach M 720, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
e-Mail: Stefan.Fischer@uni-konstanz.de;
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 September 2002 (online)

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Introduction

Applications of transition metal chemistry serve as valuable tools for synthetic chemists. An important example is Co2(CO)8, a well known reagent of versatile and still increasing utility since its discovery by L. Mond et al. in 1910. [1]

The generation of moderately air stable Co-acetylene complexes is the key property of this reagent. These complexes are formed at ambient temperature by stirring solutions of Co2(CO)8 and the alkyne (Figure 1). Purification by silica gel chromatography affords the pure products.

Figure 1

The synthesis of Co2(CO)8 usually requires high pressures of CO or CO/H2 depending on the oxidation state of the staring material. [2] Moreover Co2(CO)8 is commercially available from all major suppliers and often no further purification is necessary.