Cobalt-Catalyzed Migration Isomerization of Dienes

Abstract

A cobalt-catalyzed multipositional isomerization of conjugated dienes has been reported for the first time using an 8-oxazoline iminoquinoline ligand. This reaction is operationally simple and atom-economical using readily available starting materials with an <i>E/Z</i> mixture to access disubstituted 1,3-dienes with excellent yields and good <i>E</i>,<i>E</i> stereoselectivity. The mechanism via alkene insertion of cobalt hydride species and β-H elimination of a π-allyl cobalt intermediate is proposed on the basis of deuterium labeling and control experiments and density functional theory calculations.