Synthetic design of carbonyl-group-containing compounds based on C-O bond cleavage promoted by Pd complexes

On the basis of fundamental studies on elementary processes involving allyl-O and acyl-O bond cleavages. various new catalytic processes to convert carboxylic acid derivatives have been realized. The new processes include 1) carbonylation of allyl formates to beta,gamma -unsaturated acids. 2) amination, alkylation. and carbonylation of allylic alcohols, 3) aldehyde synthesis by hydrogenation of carboxylic anhydrides and carboxylic acids, 4) ketone synthesis by combination of the C-O bond cleavage with transmetallation by organoboronic acids. The processes described here have advantages over the conventional ones in that them are more atom-efficient and halogen-free in realizing the syntheses of a variety of carbonyl-containing compounds under mild conditions.