Alkoxymetal complexes

The mechanisms of the hydroxycarbonylation and methoxycarbonylation reactions are closely related and both mechanisms can be discussed in parallel (see Section 9.3.6).631 This last reaction has been extensively studied. Two possibilities have been proposed. The first starts the cycle with a hydrido-metal complex.670 In this cycle, an alkene inserts into a Pd—H bond, and then migratory insertion of CO into an alkyl-metal bond produces an acyl-metal complex. Alcoholysis of the acyl-metal species reproduces the palladium hydride and yields the ester. In the second mechanism the crucial intermediate is a carbalkoxymetal complex. Here, the insertion of the alkene into a Pd—C bond of the carbalkoxymetal species is followed by alcoholysis to produce the ester and the alkoxymetal complex. The insertion of CO into the alkoxymetal species reproduces the carbalkoxymetal complex.630 Both proposed cycles have been depicted in Scheme 11. 

The reaction of 16-electron carbonyl complexes of Pd and Pt with alcohols and amines may presumably proceed without metal-alkoxy or metal-amide bond formatiom (cf. Scheme 8.5). The reaction of alkoxymetal complexes with carbon monoxide offers an interesting mechanistic diversity (Scheme 8.13). 

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