When cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction dares go astray: synthesis of unprecedented cobalt(iii)-complexes.

In sharp contrast with the standard [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of diyne/ene, cobalt-mediated cycloadditions with γ-alkylidenebutenolide led to unprecedented cobalt(iii) polycyclic complexes. A plausible mechanism supported by a computational study based on an unusual fragmentation of the butenolide moiety was postulated to account for this original reaction.