Sodium Hypophosphite Decomplexation of Acetylenebiscobalthexacarbonyls to cis-Olefins

Reductive decomplexation of acetylenebiscobalthexa-carbonyl is best achieved with tri-n-butyltin hydride. Instead of this toxic reagent, sodium hypophosphite monohydrate has proved to be a safe, effective, and economical reagent for such a reductive decomplexation of biscobalthexacarbonyl acetylenes into the corresponding cis-olefins.