Abstract Reactions between the Co (I) species derived from cobalt (III)'salen'(1), and (O-allyl) or (O-but-3-enyl) iodophenol, leads to isolatable cobalt complexes, viz (2),(13), which can be converted into substituted benzofurans, ie(5),(6) and benzopyrans, ie(14),(15); similarly interaction between (18) and Co (I)'salen'led, in one step, to the 3-methylindole (19).