PALLADIUM-CATALYZED ENANTIOSELECTIVE BIS-ALKOXYCARBONYLATION OF OLEFINS

Styrene, carbon monoxide, and methanol react in the presence of a catalyst precursor of the type [Pd(LL)Z2] (LL is a chiral bisphosphane ligand, Z is, for example, trifluoromethanesulfonate) and 1,4‐benzoquinone to provide optically active succinates 1 [Eq. (a)]. Depending on the ligand, high chemoselectivities and enantiomeric excesses of up to 93% ee are achieved. These results may expect rapid application, since chiral succinates are important as intermediates in the synthesis of drugs and natural products. (Figure Presented.) Copyright © 1993 by VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Germany