Microwave–promoted assembly of 18–electron cobalt metallocenes: high yields, convenient access and diverse architectures Darren G. Hamilton Mount Holyoke College A variety of diarylacetylenes may be employed in a simple microwave protocol to obtain both known and novel metallocenes. In the case of the congested di–(1–naphthyl)acetylene this microwave approach represents the only viable approach to the preparation of these materials. The X–ray structure of one of these materials is presented. Employment of a diester acetylene in the synthesis leads to efficient isolation of a dinuclear cobalt complex implicated in the mechanism of metal–catalyzed cyclotrimerization of acetylenes. Invetigation of the role and synthetic utility of this material is underway.