Regiochemistry in the Pauson−Khand Reaction: Has a Trans Effect Been Overlooked?

Alkyne−dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes have been studied by DFT to examine whether electronic
differences in the acetylenic substituents could play a role in determining the regiochemical outcome in the
Pauson−Khand reaction. It appears that in some instances the regiochemistry is, in fact, governed exclusively
by the electronic nature of the acetylenic substituents through the discriminant loss of a carbon monoxide
ligand.