Allenes bearing a nucleophilic group cyclize on treatment with acyltet
racarbonyl cobalt complexes in the presence of mild bases. Various nuc
leophilic groups and cobalt complexes can be used to give highly funct
ionalized pyrrolidines, cyclopentanes and tetrahydrofurans. Disubstitu
ted allenes may be used in the reaction. 1,3-disubstituted allenes giv
e products with high stereoselectivity.