Catalysis by palladium salts I. The role of dimethylformamide and related solvents in the palladium-olefin interaction

Novel anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity in the Wacker reaction of styrenes

The Wacker reaction is one of the longest known palladium-catalysed organic transformations, and in the vast majority of cases proceeds with Markovnikov regioselectivity. Palladium(II)-mediated oxidation of styrenes was examined and in the absence of reoxidants was found to proceed in an anti-Markovnikov sense, giving aldehydes. Studies on the mechanism of this unusual transformation were carried out, and indicate the possible involvement of a eta(4)-palladium-styrene complex. With a heteropolyacid as the terminal oxidant, oxidation of styrene to give the anti-Markovnikov aldehyde as the major product was found to be catalytic.

Fast and mild palladium(ii)-catalyzed 1,4-oxidation of 1,3-dienes via activation of molecular oxygen with a designed cobalt(ii) porphyrin

The use of a Co(porphyrin)-amide ligand, , in the palladium(II)-catalyzed 1,4-diacetoxylation of conjugated dienes under O2 results in aerobic oxidation. The catalyst was highly active under O2, and the 1,4-diacetoxylation reaction could also be performed under air.