The search for atom-economic carbon-carbon bondforming reactions initiated by low-valent cobalt complexes has led to two reactions that generate acyclic 1,4-dienes: the 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction of a terminal alkene with a 1,3-diene and the Alderene reaction of a terminal alkene with an internal alkyne.The regioselective cobalt-catalysed Diels-Alder reaction of an alkyne and a 1,3-diene for the synthesis of cyclic 1,4-dienes led to its application in the synthesis of 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives upon ozonolysis. Through applications of the cobalt-catalysed 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction, the synthesis of 1,3-or 1,4-dicarbonyl derivatives can be accomplished in a substrate-controlled process. For instance, 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene leads to acyclic 1,4-dienes via the cobalt-catalysed 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction which can then be converted into 1,3-carbonyls by ozonolysis. In contrast, the use of 2-(trimethylsiloxy)buta-1,3-diene generates g,d-unsaturated ketones, which can be converted into 1,4-dicarbonyl derivatives upon ozonolysis. Recently, studies into the synthesis of different types of polycarbonyl compounds in which the distance between the carbonyl groups can be altered have been initiated.