OXIDATIVE CARBONYLATION OF STYRENE TO ETHYL CINNAMATE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00863056

A detailed study was made of the products of oxidative carbonylation of styrene in the presence of the catalyst system PdCl2-CuCl2-Cu(OAc)2-Mn(OAc)2 at 100 deg C and 3.2 MPa.The target product, ethyl cinnamate, reached a molar proportion of 95percent.The principal side reaction products were acetophenone and diethylphenyl succinate.Investigation of the influence of the composition of the catalyst system on the yield of the target product and the selectivity of the reaction showed that Mn(OAc)2 was of greatest importance as a co-catalyst in the multicomponent Pd catalyst system.The results are discussed with reference to an alcoholate mechanism for oxidative carbonylation of olefins.Keywords: oxidative carbonylation, styrene, ethyl cinnamate, acetophenone, diethylphenyl succinate, catalysis, palladium, complex.