Regiochemical control in palladium(0) and palladium(II) catalysed alkene–formate ester carbonylation reactions

Abstract

Palladium(0) complexes [Pd(PPh₃)₄ or Pd(dba)₂], (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) in the presence of 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, can catalyse the reaction of alkenes and formate esters to give linear carboxylic esters as the major product, while the branched chain isomer was the principal ester obtained by use of a palladium(II) complex [bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride] as the catalyst.