Highly selective hydrocarboxylation of styrene with oxalic acid or water using palladium ortho-amino arenethiolates with intramolecular co-ordinating nitrogen Lewis bases

Abstract

Under mild conditions and in the presence of a catalytic amount of an S, N-chelated palladium ortho-amino arenethiolate complex, styrene reacts with carbon monoxide and oxalic acid or water to selectively give 2-phenylpropanoic acid in high yield.