A simple method for the carbonylation of allylic halides with insertion of acetylene

Abstract

A simple procedure for the preparation of methyl 2,5-dienoates from allyl halides, acetylene, carbon monoxide, and methanol at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, based on the formation in situ of the catalytic nickel complex from nickel chloride, is described. A manganese–iron alloy is used as reducing agent and thiourea is used as ligand for the formation of the complex. A mechanism involving a five-co-ordinated complex is proposed.