Mild and efficient molybdenum-mediated Pauson-Khand-type reaction

The molybdenum-mediated Pauson-Khand reaction promoted by Mo(CO)(3)(DMF)(3) takes place under very mild conditions in the absence of any promoter. High yields in Pauson-Khand adducts are obtained in the cyclization of a wide variety of functionatized 1,6- and 1,7-enzymes. Enynes bearing electron withdrawing groups at the alkene terminus are particularly good substrates.