Telomerization of 1,3-butadiene with alcohols catalyzed by homogeneous palladium(0) complexes in the presence of mono- and diphosphine ligands

The homogeneous telomerization of 1,3-butadiene with alcohols for the selec tive synthesis of linear octadienyl ethers in the presence of catalysts pre pared in situ from palladium(0) bis-dibenzylidene-acetone and different mon o- and diphosphine ancillary ligands is described. With monophosphines, a c orrelation between basicity as well as steric hindrance of the ligand and a ctivity and selectivity of the resulting catalyst was found. When diphosphi nes were used, the effect of the bite of the chelating ligand, as well as i ts basicity and steric hindrance on the activity and selectivity of the pro cess was studied and discussed in terms of the relative stability of the me tallacyclo moieties involved in the catalytic cycle. The above results have allowed to gain more light on the reaction mechanism. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.