Pd-catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroxy- and Alkoxycarbonylation Reactions

Besides the term alkoxycarbonylation, hydroesterification and hydroalkoxycarbony-lation have also been used in the literature to describe this reaction. Furthermore, more specific terms such as methoxycarbonylation can be found. In this chapter, the term alkoxycarbonylation will be used as a general term, and specific terms will be used to unambiguously define which reaction is meant. 

However, these reactions are reportedly less successful than hydroformylation due to the difficulty in simultaneously obtaining both high regio- and enantioselectivities. 

The alkoxycarbonylation of vinyl arenes is of particular relevance, as its products (2-aryl propionic add and derivatives) are precursors for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly ibuprofen and naproxen [41]. 

Despite the growing number of mechanistic studies, the cause of regioselectivity of these reactions is still not established [43]. 

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