PALLADIUM-CATALYZED CARBOXYLATION OF VINYL TRIFLATES - ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF ALPHA,BETA-UNSATURATED CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS

The electrocarboxylation of vinyl triflates performed with carbon diox ide and a catalytic amount of PdCl2(PPh3)(2) affords alpha,beta-unsatu rated carboxylic acids. The reactivity of vinyl triflates has been rev ersed in the presence of an electron source, since they now react with electrophiles. The reaction proceeds by an activation of the C-O bond of the vinyl triflate by a palladium(0) complex followed by an activa tion by electron transfer, of the vinylpalladium(II) complex formed in the oxidative addition.