Front Cover: Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Acrylates Bearing a Leaving Group: Construction of Cyclobutene Rings (Asian J. Org. Chem. 12/2018)

Abstract

Cyclobutene Ring! A cobalt complex with dppf as the ligand catalyzed the synthesis of cyclobutenes from alkynes and acrylates bearing a leaving group at the α position. The formation of cyclobutenes was facilitated by a suitable proton source. In the presence of a Lewis acid, acetonitrile participated in the reaction, affording the corresponding acetylated cyclobutenes. More information can be found in the Communication by Tetsuaki Fujihara, Yasushi Tsuji et al. on page 2456 in Issue 12, 2018 (DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.201800561).