Palladium-Catalyzed Alkoxycarbonylation of Unactivated Secondary Alkyl Bromides at Low Pressure

Catalytic carbonylations of organohalides are important C-C bond formations in chemical synthesis. Carbonylations of unactivated alkyl halides remain a challenge and currently require the use of alkyl iodides under harsh conditions and high pressures of CO. Herein we report a palladium-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of secondary alkyl bromides that proceeds at low pressure (2 atm CO) under mild conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies are consistent with a hybrid organometallic-radical process. These reactions efficiently deliver esters from unactivated alkyl bromides across a diverse range of substrates and represent the first catalytic carbonylations of alkyl bromides with carbon monoxide.