Toward the development of efficient and stable Pd-catalysts for the methoxycarbonylation of medium chain alkenes

Methoxycarbonylation provides a one-step synthesis to valuable ester products utilised in both the fine and heavy chemical industry. However, in general, reaction rates for longer chain alkenes are poor which renders industrial implementation economical unviable. In cases where suitable rates are achieved, the requisite reagents are costly and in addition, the catalyst complexes readily decompose at elevated temperatures. This paper describes the use of an alternative ligand structural motif for the efficient methoxycarbonylation of terminal and internal medium chain alkenes to their corresponding esters. Promising results were obtained using a catalyst complex generated in situ from an unsymmetrical diphosphine ligand based on a ferrocene backbone, Pd(OAc)2 and methane sulfonic acid.