Recent improvements in the alkoxycarbonylation reaction catalyzed by transition metal complexes

Palladium plays an almost exclusive role as catalyst in the alkoxycarbonylation of various substrates to produce esters or lactones, by incorporation of CO and a alcohol. The coordination sphere can be adapted by introduction of mono- or bidentate phosphorus containing ligands, providing efficient tools to obtain with high turnovers, regio- and even enantioselectivities the incorporation of a COOR function onto a carbon atom.