A Palladium-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroesterification of Alkenylphenols to Lactones with Phenyl Formate as CO Source

Abstract

An effective Pd(OAc)2-PPh3 catalyzed hydroesterification of alkenylphenols with phenyl formate as CO surrogate is described. A variety of lactones are obtained in generally high yields with high regioselectivities. In one case, 76% ee is obtained with a chiral ligand.