New Directions in Transition Metal Catalyzed Carbonylation Chemistry

Carbon monoxide (CO) represents an important C1-building block for the construction of some of the most fundamental chemical functionalities carrying a carbon-oxygen double bond. Transition metal catalysis plays a key role in promoting such transformations. We have earlier shown that the combination of palladium catalysis with CO releasing molecules and the two-chamber reactor, COware, provides a convenient and safe means for performing traditional Pd-catalyzed carbonylative couplings, as well as being a platform for the discovery of new carbonylation reactions. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to ¹³C- and ¹⁴C-isotope labeling, as well as providing for a suitable setting for developing efficient carbonylation reactions with ¹¹CO. Herein, we provide a short overview of our latest findings in this area with emphasis on carbonylative couplings with fluorinated building blocks, but also discuss our efforts to develop viable Ni-catalyzed carbonylations with aliphatic substrates, which can be performed efficiently under low CO partial pressures.