Zero-valent amino-olefin cobalt complexes as catalysts for oxygen atom transfer reactions from nitrous oxide

The synthesis and characterization of several zero-valent cobalt complexes with a bis(olefin)-amino ligand is presented. Some of these complexes proved to be efficient catalysts for the selective oxidation of secondary and allylic phosphanes, as well as diphosphanes, even with a direct P-P bond. With 5 mol % catalyst loadings the oxidations proceed under mild conditions (25-70 °C, 7-22 h, 2 bar N O) and afford good to excellent yields (65-98 %). In this process, the greenhouse gas N O is catalytically converted into benign N and added-value organophosphorus compounds, some of which are difficult to obtain otherwise