Hydrodimerization of Methyl Acrylate Catalyzed by Halogenotris(triphenylphosphine)cobalt

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.54.1015

Methyl acrylate was hydrodimerized in a methanolic solution by CoX(PPh3)3 (X = halogen) into dimethyl adipate.The in situ prepared cobalt complexes from cobalt halides, triphenylphosphine, and zinc gave higher yields of the hydrodimer in the presence of alkali halides.A mechanism is proposed which involves the protonation of Co(I)-methyl acrylate ?-complex to give (2-methoxycarbonylethyl)cobalt complex, followed by a further addition of methyl acrylate.