The Nicholas reaction is an organic reaction where a dicobalt octacarbonyl-stabilized propargylic cation is reacted with a nucleophile. Oxidative demetallation gives the desired alkylated alkyne. It is named after Kenneth M. Nicholas.
The Pauson–Khand reaction (or PKR or PK-type reaction) is a chemical reaction described as a [2+2+1] cycloaddition between an alkyne, an alkene and carbon monoxide to form a α,β-cyclopentenone. Ihsan Ullah Khand (1935-1980) discovered the reaction around 1970, while working as a postdoctoral associate with Peter Ludwig Pauson (1925–2013) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Pauson and Khand's initial findings were intermolecular in nature, but starting a decade after the reaction's discovery, many intramolecular examples have been highlighted in both synthesis and methodology reports. This reaction was originally mediated by stoichiometric amounts of dicobalt octacarbonyl, but newer versions are both more efficient, enhancing reactivity and yield via utilizing different chiral auxiliaries for stereo induction, main group transition-metals (Ti, Mo, W, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Ir and Pd), and additives.
