title: Palladium-catalyzed dimerization of vinyl ethers to acetals.
abstract: (Alpha-diimine)PdCl(+) species catalytically dimerize alkyl and silyl vinyl ethers to beta,gamma-unsaturated CH(2)=CHCH(2)CH(OR)(2) acetals, and they cyclize divinyl ethers to analogous cyclic acetals. A plausible mechanism comprises in situ generation of an active PdOR alkoxide species, double vinyl ether insertion to generate Pd{CH(2)CH(OR)CH(2)CH(OR)(2)} species, and beta-OR elimination to generate the acetal product. In the presence of vinyl ethers, (alpha-diimine)PdCl(+) species can be used to initiate ethylene polymerization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Changle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jordan