A recyclable CO surrogate in regioselective alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes: indirect use of carbon dioxide

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 Aug 14;51(63):12574-7. doi: 10.1039/c5cc05012j.

Abstract

Herein, we report a Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes based on the use of a recyclable CO2 reduction product, the crystalline and air-stable N-formylsaccharin, as a CO surrogate. The carbonylation proceeds under ambient conditions in an exceptionally complementary regioselective fashion yielding the desired branched products from styrene derivatives and valuable linear esters from alkyl-substituted alkenes.