Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of [Cp′Co(COD)] Complexes Bearing Pendant N‑Containing Groups

The novel Co­(I)-complex [Cp^CNCo­(COD)] (Cp^CN = η⁵-(C₅H₄CMe₂CH₂CN), COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; 3) with a substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand containing a pendant nitrile moiety has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of the nitrile group in 3 has been investigated regarding its behavior in cyclization reactions with alkynes, leading to three new complexes containing pendant 2-pyridyl groups. All synthesized complexes have been evaluated as catalysts in the [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,6-heptadiyne and benzonitrile.