Direct synthesis of oxalic acid via oxidative CO coupling mediated by a dinuclear hydroxycarbonylcobalt(III) complex

Oxidative coupling of CO is a straightforward and economic benign synthetic route for value-added α-diketone moiety containing C₂ or higher carbon compounds in both laboratory and industry, but is still undeveloped to date. In this work, a rare coplanar dinuclear hydroxycarbonylcobalt(III) complex, bearing a Schiff-base macrocyclic equatorial ligand and a μ-κ¹(O):κ¹(O')-acetate bridging axial ligand, is synthesized and characterized. The Co(III)-COOH bonds in this complex can be feasibly photocleaved, leading to the formation of oxalic acid. Moreover, the light-promoted catalytic direct production of oxalic acid from CO and H₂O using O₂ as the oxidant with good selectivity (> 95%) and atom economy at ambient temperature and gas pressure based on this dicobalt(III) complex have been achieved, with a turnover number of 38.5. The ¹³C-labelling and ¹⁸O-labelling experiments confirm that CO and H₂O act as the sources of the -COOH groups in the dinuclear hydroxycarbonylcobalt(III) complex and the oxalic acid product.

Synthesis of 2-Alkylaryl and Furanyl Acetates by Palladium Catalysed Carbonylation of Alcohols

The one-pot alkoxycarbonylation of halo-free alkylaryl and furanyl alcohols represents a sustainable alternative for the synthesis of alkylaryl and furanyl acetates. In this paper, the reaction between benzyl alcohol, chosen as a model substrate, CH3OH and CO was tested in the presence of a homogeneous palladium catalyst, an activator (isopropenyl acetate (IPAc) or dimethyl carbonate (DMC)) and a base (Cs2CO3). The influence of various reaction parameters such as the CO pressure, ligand and palladium precursor employed, mmol% catalyst load, temperature and time were investigated. The results demonstrate that decreasing the CO pressure from 50 bar to 5 bar at 130 °C for 18 h increases yields in benzyl acetate from 36% to over 98%. Further experiments were performed in the presence of piperonyl and furfuryl alcohol, interesting substrates employed for the synthesis of various fine chemicals. Moreover, furfuryl alcohol is a lignocellulosic-derived building block employed for the synthesis of functionalized furans such as 2-alkylfurfuryl acetates. Both the alcohols were successfully transformed in the corresponding acetate (yields above 96%) in rather mild reaction conditions (5–0.01 mol% catalyst, 5–2 bar CO pressure, 130 °C, 4–18h), demonstrating that the alkoxycarbonylation of alcohols represents a promising sustainable alternative to more impactful industrial practices adopted to date for the synthesis of alkylaryl and furfuryl acetates.

A sustainable route for the synthesis of alkyl arylacetates via halogen and base free carbonylation of benzyl acetates

The Pd-catalysed carbonylation of benzyl acetates for the synthesis of 2-alkylbenzyl acetates in the absence of base and halogen sources was investigated.

Featuring Xantphos

This review highlights the use of the bisphosphine ligand group in homogeneous catalysis.

DFT study on the Au(i)-catalyzed cyclization of indole-allenoate: counterion and solvent effects

The base strength was revealed to be the primary factor controlling the catalytic capability of counterions. The image shows the Au(i)-catalyzed cyclization reaction of indole-allenoate to form dihydrocyclopenta[b]indole derivatives, as reported by Ma.

Copper-catalyzed carbonylative transformations of indoles with hexaketocyclohexane

With hexaketocyclohexane octahydrate as the carbon monoxide source, a novel procedure for copper-catalyzed direct double carbonylation of indoles has been established.

Sulfoximinocarbonylation of aryl halides using heterogeneous Pd/C catalyst

A heterogeneous Pd/C catalyzed three component protocol is developed for the sulfoximinocarbonylation of aryl halides.

Palladium–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed synthesis of 2-ynamides via oxidative aminocarbonylation of alkynes with amines

Palladium–NHC compounds catalyzing the oxidative aminocarbonylation of alkynes and amines have been developed with oxygen as the benign oxidant under mild reaction conditions, which led to an efficient approach toward the formation a series of alphatic and aromatic 2-ynamides with high atom efficiency.