Unsaturated carboxylic esters with active hydrogen

The isolation of saturated and unsaturated acetic acid derivatives in the manganese(m) acetate oxidation of olefins has been reported earlier examples of this oxidation led solely to y-lactones. A one-step synthesis of aeo-di-carboxylic acid diesters has been reported, based on Kolbe electrolysis of oxalic and malonic half-esters in the presence of olefins, and is exemplified in Scheme 2. As part of a study of insect hormone activity, Kolbe electrolysis has been utilized in the preparation of aj9-unsaturated Cj4—Cj7 acid esters with a terminal quaternary alkyl group. The utility of liquid hydrogen fluoride in the Koch carbonylation of olefins has been descried, as has a general study of this reaction. ... 

In Scheme 1.2, all of the types of carbonylations that are discussed in the book are depicted. Alcohols, amines, ethers, carboxylic acids and halides can be converted to acids, amides, esters, ketones, alkynones, alkenones, anhydrides and acid halides with the assistance of transition metal catalysts in the presence of a CO source. The CO sources used can be carbon monoxide gas, Mo(CO)6, Co(CO>6, formic acid, aldehyde, etc. If the starting material is alcohols or amines, some additives for activation are needed, such as BuONO, TsCl, AcCl. If the substrate is (Hetero)ArH, additional oxidants will be necessary this is a so-caUed oxidative carbonylation. If an unsaturated compound is to be carbonylated, a nucleophile NuH that carries an acidic hydrogen has to be present. In the case of insertion reactions, this is not necessary. 

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