Diastereomeric (alkyne)pentacarbonyldicobalt complexes containing the
chiral phosphine ligand (R)-(+)-Glyphos have been synthesized and sepa
rated chromatographically. The isolated, optically pure diastereomeric
complexes have been employed in intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions
, using anhydrous N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as the reaction promoter
under mild conditions, to give high yields of cyclopentenone products
in good to excellent enantiomeric excesses.