Oxidation of olefins by palladium salts in non-aqueous solvents

Abstract

Ethylene and propylene have been oxidized in acetic acid to mixtures of saturated and unsaturated esters and carbonyl compounds. The reactions are catalyzed by combinations of palladium and copper salts. Separate reactions induced by Pd(II) alone and by Pd(II) and Cu(II) together have been kinetically distinguished. In oxidations of prophlene and octene by palladous acetate, the importance of the concentration of lithium acetate and of N,N-dimethylacetamide in promoting the synthesis of allylic esters has been described.