we wish to report the intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of nitrilediynes catalyzed by the CoI2(dppe)/Zn system at 80 degrees C in CH3CN. Under these reaction conditions, various highly substituted nitrilediynes having steric conjunction at the alpha and beta positions to a nitrile group and a bulkier substitution at the terminal carbon of alkyne undergo [2 + 2 + 2] cocylotrimerization