Selective formation of pentan-3-one from carbon monoxide and ethene in methanol

摘要

In the presence of rhodium complexes of triethylphosphine, CO and ethene react in methanol to give pentan-3-one with selectivities up to 85%; model studies and deuterium labelling suggest that the mechanism involves hydroxycarbene and eta(2)-3-oxopentyl derivatives. [References: 11]