Transition metal promoted carboxylation of unsaturated substrates with carbon dioxide

The use of CO2 as a C1 building block for the synthesis of useful chemicals is of great significance, and has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The transition metal catalyzed or mediated addition of CO2 to unsaturated chemical bonds has proved to be a powerful and versatile protocol for the incorporation of CO2 into various unsaturated organic substrates such as alkynes, alkenes, allenes, aldehydes, and 1,3-dienes. The hydrogenative, alkylative and arylative carboxylation, heterocarboxylation, and carboxylative cyclization with CO2 have led to efficient and selective formation of various functionalized carboxylic acids and derivatives. This review focuses on recent advances in this area with emphasis on conceptual reaction design. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.