Ruthenium Complex-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Allylic Compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00104a036

Allylic alkyl carbonates are carbonylated under 40 atm of carbon monoxide at 100-120 deg C in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ru3(CO)12/1,10-phenanthroline to give α,β- or β,γ-unsaturated esters in good to high yields.For example, cinnamyl methyl carbonate afforded the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated esters, methyl trans-4-phenyl-3-butenoate (1) in 93percent yield.The regioselectivity in the carbonylation of crotyl methyl carbonate is unusual and it depends on the carbon monoxide pressure.The more sterically hindered carbon (γ-carbon) is predominantly carbonylated at 20-50 atm.When the reaction of cinnamyl methyl carbonate was performed at elevated temperature (150 deg C) without 1,10-phenanthroline, the dimer of 1, dimethyl 3-benzyl-2-(trans-2-phenylvinyl)glutarate, was obtained in 56percent yield.In the presence of secondary amines, allylic alkyl carbonates were carbonylated mainly at α-carbon to give α,β- or β,γ-unsaturated amides in high yields.