Hydrodimerization of Methyl Acrylate Catalyzed by Halogenotris(triphenylphosphine)cobalt

Abstract
Methyl acrylate was hydrodimerized in a methanolic solution by CoX(PPh3)3 (X=halogen) into dimethyl adipate. The in situ prepared cobalt complexes from cobalt halides, triphenylphosphine, and zinc gave higher yields of the hydrodimer in the presence of alkali halides. A mechanism is proposed which involves the protonation of Co(I)–methyl acrylate π-complex to give (2-methoxycarbonylethyl)cobalt complex, followed by a further addition of methyl acrylate.

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