title: Catalytic carbonylation of beta-lactones to succinic anhydrides.
abstract: A well-defined, highly active and selective catalyst for the synthesis of succinic anhydrides from CO and beta-lactones is reported. At 200 psi of CO, the catalyst [(N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)phenylenediamino)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4] carbonylates beta-propiolactones to succinic anhydrides in high yield. (R)-beta-Butyrolactone is carbonylated to (S)-methylsuccinic anhydride with clean inversion of stereochemistry, while cis-2,3-dimethyl-beta-propiolactone yields exclusively trans-2,3-dimethylsuccinic anhydride. These data are consistent with a mechanism involving nucleophilic attack by [Co(CO)4]- on the beta carbon of the lactone, followed by CO insertion and anhydride formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, USA.
authors.forename: Yutan D Y L
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Getzler
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kundnani
authors.forename: Emil B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Lobkovsky
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Coates