Pd-Catalyzed Highly Regioselective Hydroesterification of Terminal Alkyl Olefins with Formates

Comprehensive Summary A Pd-catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of alkyl terminal olefins with aryl formates is described. A wide variety of linear carboxylic esters bearing various functional groups can be obtained in good yields with high regioselectivities under mild reaction conditions by using 1,2-DTBPMB or (p-F-Ph)(3)P as ligand. The reaction process is operationally simple and requires no handling of toxic CO or strong acid. The resulting aryl esters can be readily converted to other carboxylic acid derivatives.