Oxidation ligand steric profile

The relative reactivity profile of the simple alkenes toward Wacker oxidation is quite shallow and in the order ethene > propene > 1-butene > Zi-2-butene > Z-2-butene.102 This order indicates that steric factors outweigh electronic effects and is consistent with substantial nucleophilic character in the rate-determining step. (Compare with oxymercuration see Part A, Section 5.8.) The addition step is believed to occur by an internal ligand transfer through a four-center mechanism, leading to syn addition. 

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