Aryl halides were readily converted into their corresponding aromatic carboxylic acids in high yields with high selectivity by ligand-free palladium-catalyzed hydroxycarbonylation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The new method is operationally simple and scalable. In addition, aromatic esters were easily synthesized through one-pot hydroxycarbonylation/alkylation with alkyl halides.
Key words
aryl halides - carbonylation - carboxylic acids - hydroxycarbonylation - palladium