Selected recent developments in organo-cobalt chemistry

Organometallic complexes of cobalt continue to find application in a wide variety of contexts, from fundamental organometallic and coordination chemistry, to the metal-mediated synthesis of organic compounds. The research outlined in this review reports on the use of organo-cobalt chemistry for the synthesis of organic compounds and cobalt containing metallocenes, particularly those cases which involve a formal cycloaddition between alkynes, with or without carbon monoxide, forming pi-coordinated cyclopentenones or cyclobutadienes, respectively. Particular focus is given to the various methods available for the formation of organo-cobalt metallocenes, and their application as versatile reagents in organic synthesis is discussed.