Advances in the cobalt-catalysed Pauson-Khand reaction: development of a sulfide-promoted, microwave-assisted protocol

Abstract The development of a sulfide-promoted, microwave-assisted Pauson-Khand reaction has enabled the formation of fused cyclopentenones using sub-stoichiometric quantities of a cobalt mediator over rapid reaction times and with no requirement for an external source of toxic carbon monoxide gas. This protocol displays applicability to both intra- and intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction examples.