Efficient methoxycarbonylation of benzyl chloride without external carbon monoxide: a further application of methyl formate in synthesis using PdCl 2(PPh 3) 2 as catalyst

Abstract

The decarbonylation reaction of methyl formate induced by Mg(OMe) 2, in the presence of benzyl chloride and dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium gives rise selectively to methyl phenylethanoate with turnover numbers and turnover frequencies up to ca. 2400 and 1000 h −1, respectively.