The Unprecedented Cobalt-Catalysed Oxidative Glaser Coupling under Reductive Conditions

The cobalt-catalysed Glaser-type coupling of terminal alkynes was achieved utilising nitrobenzene as a stoichiometric oxidising agent under reductive conditions. The proposed electron transfer from zinc powder to a nitrobenzene coordinated to the cobalt centre initiates the Coupling of the coordinated alkynes. Other aryl-, alkenyl-, alkyl-, and silylacetylenes besides phenylacetylene could also be coupled to generate the 1,3-diynes in moderate to very good yields.