Mechanistic Investigation of Well-Defined Cobalt Catalyzed Formal E-Selective Hydrophosphination of Alkynes

A formal E-selective hydrophosphination of terminal and internal alkynes catalyzed by a well-defined [Co(PMe3)4] (A) complex is achieved under mild conditions in good-to-excellent yield. The reaction does not require any additives and/or external base for an efficient hydrophosphination reaction. The reaction provided excellent scope and good functional tolerance. Detailed spectroscopic analysis (NMR, EPR, and UV–vis) revealed that the low valent cobalt(0) complex undergoes oxidative addition with diphenylphosphine, followed by hydrometalation with alkyne, and subsequent reductive elimination led to the expected product. The detailed spectroscopic analyses along with the isotopic labeled experiments facilitate to intercept the active intermediates that are involved in the catalytic cycle, which are detailed. It was revealed that the suprafacial (vide infra) delivery of H and phosphorus to π-alkynes in a syn-fashion led to formal E-vinyl phosphine.