The Influence of High Pressure in Palladium Catalyzed Coupling Reactions.

Abstract

The influence of high pressure (1-10 kbar) in solution on palladium catalyzed coupling reactions is examined both under the aspect of reactivity as well as selectivity. We present evidence that pressure can considerably accelerate such reactions as well as dramtically increase the turnover numbers of the catalysts. Moreover, new catalytic reactions become possible by using pressure: we present here our preliminary results on palladium catalyzed acylations of alkenes and the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes by a new domino process combining the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons and the Heck reaction. [palladium, alkenes, c ,f l-unsaturated ketones, Heck reaction, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction]