Pd-catalyzed enantioselective hydroesterification of vinyl arenes on water

Abstract

An efficient Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydroesterification of vinyl arenes on water is reported. A variety of phenyl 2-arylpropanoates can be obtained in good yields with high b/l ratios and ee's with phenyl formate or CO as a carbonyl source. (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS was found to be an effective ligand for the reaction under aqueous conditions. The hydrophobicity of the ligand appeared to be crucial to the hydroesterification reaction, which likely proceeded “on water”.