A direct carbonylation of allylic alcohols has been realized for the first time with high catalyst activity at low pressure of CO (10 bar). The procedure is described in detail for the carbonylation of E-nerolidol, an important step in a new BASF-route to (-)-ambrox. Key to high activities in the allylic alcohol carbonylation is the finding that catalytic amounts of carboxylic anhydride activate the substrate and are constantly regenerated with carbon monoxide under the reaction conditions. The identified reaction conditions are transferrable to other substrates as well.
Keywords: allylic alcohol; anhydride; carbonylation; carboxylic acid; palladium.
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