Synthesis of fluorophenyl carbonyl cobalt(I) complexes and decarbonylation of 2,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde catalyzed by CoMe(PMe3)4

Three fluorophenyl carbonyl cobalt(I) complexes PhF(PMe3)3Co(CO) (1-3) were synthesized by the reaction of fluoro-benzaldehydes with CoMe(PMe3)4 via C-H bond activation and decarbonylation reaction. The chemical properties of complexes 1 and 3 were studied. The catalytic decarbonylation of 2,4,5-trifluoro-benzaldehyde to 1,2,4-trifluorobenzene by CoMe(PMe3)4 was explored. A mechanism of the catalytic decarbonylation reaction was speculated with the support of experiment.72