Pd/C catalyzed phenoxycarbonylation using N-formylsaccharin as a CO surrogate in propylene carbonate, a sustainable solvent

This work reports the first Pd/C catalyzed phenoxycarbonylation of aryl iodides using N-formylsaccharin as a CO surrogate. Advantageously the reaction could be carried out in propylene carbonate an environmentally benign and sustainable polar aprotic solvent under CO surrogacy. Using N-formylsaccharin as a CO surrogate allows the usage of cheaper and readily available phenols as the coupling partner. A range of phenyl esters could be synthesized under mild co-catalyst free ligand free and additive free conditions including multi-substituted novel phenyl esters. The Pd/C catalyst could be recycled up to four times with only a slight loss in activity. The reaction could be scaled up to gram scale synthesis.