A neutral Zr(IV) complex has been shown to be an effective precatalyst for intramolecular alkene hydroaminations that provide cyclic amines in good to excellent yields.

Compared to terminal alkynes, (methylthio)alkynes are generally superior substrates for the thermally promoted, Co₂(CO)₈ catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction of enynes and allenynes, providing enones in higher yields and with enhanced diastereoselectivity. Improvements in yield dependent upon the use of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol as co-solvent and an apparent preference for endo selectivity with (ethoxy)alkynes are also disclosed.

A series of new P-chirogenic diphosphines has been prepared by efficient and complementary synthetic procedures. The utilization of a series of these bidentate ligands possessing steric linker variations and a conserved P-chirogenic domain in an asymmetric variation of the Rh(I)-catalyzed [4 + 2] enediene cycloaddition is described.