J. Grevin et P. Kalck, 1ST USE OF METHYL FORMATE WITH NO EXTRA CARBON-MONOXIDE IN THE HYDROESTERIFICATION OF ETHENE CATALYZED BY PALLADIUM COMPLEXES, Journal of organometallic chemistry, 476(2), 1994, pp. 30000023-30000024
The complex [PdH(Cl)(PBu3)2], generated in situ by addition of one equ
ivalent of NaBH4 to [PdCl2(PBu3)2], is a good catalyst precursor for t
he addition of methyl formate to ethene. Extra carbon monoxide is not
required, and methyl propanoate is produced with high selectivity.