Hydroesterification, Hydroamidation, and Hydroacylation

The hydroesterification of alkenes is a versatile method for obtaining carboxylic esters from alkene, CO, and alcohol (Eq. 11.13) [45, 46]. 

Ethylene reacts with methanol with the Ru(CO)3(PCy3)2 catalyst even in the absence of CO to give methyl propionate (Eq. 11.14). 

Keim and coworkers examined the mechanism of this reaction using CHsOH and propylene. Methyl butyrate was obtained as a product, and C was found to be incorporated into both the carbonyl carbon and the methoxy group (Eq. 11.15) [47]. 

This result shows that the product is obtained upon the decomposition of methanol to CO and hydrogen (Eq. 11.16). 

The hydroesterification of allenes with alcohol and CO, when catalyzed by ruthenium complexes, gives acrylates [48, 49]. In the presence of amines, acrylamides are formed in high yields (Eq. 11.17). 

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