Highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of styrene using chiral ferrocene- and biphosphole-based ligands

The methoxycarbonylation of styrene has been studied using Pd(OAc)2/L/acid catalytic systems with L being chiral ferrocene- and biphosphole-based ligands. Good activities are obtained in mild conditions. Chemoselectivities and regioselectivities (up to 98% in favour of the branched isomer) are excellent but enantioselectivities remain moderate (ee up to 17%).