Mechanisms alkane hydrocarboxylation

Scheme 2.8 Main radical mechanism of the hydrocarboxylation of alkanes with peroxydisulfate, CO, and water, in aqueous (H20/MeCN) medium [51]. The minor 7 (or 7a) to 8 alternative pathway does not concern water as the hydroxylating agent. (5ee insert for color...

The initial steps of the mechanism of the alkane (RH) carboxylation (Scheme 2.9b) [52, 53] are identical to those of the hydrocarboxylation, discussed above, with S20g as the source of the sulfate radical, which acts as H-abstractor from the alkane to give the alkyl radical R, and CO as the carbonylating agent of this radical to yield the acyl radical RC 0. 

Scheme 3.11 Simplified mechanism for the Cu-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of alkanes (RH) to carboxylic acids (RCOOH). Adapted from Reference 14.

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