To mediate the catalyst activity of a catalyst system used for carbonylation of epoxides by modifying a cation thereof, and to provide a new approach by the use of a cationic Lewis acid as a cation in the catalyst system.
Epoxides, aziridines, thiiranes, oxetanes, lactones, lactams and analogous compounds are reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst having following general formula: [Lewis acid]z+{[QM(CO)x]w-}y (wherein, Q is any ligand and need not be present; M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of transition metals of groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements; z is the valence of the Lewis acid, and ranges from 1 to 6; w is the charge of the metal carbonyl and ranges from 1 to 4, and usually is 1; y is a number such that w times y equals z; and x is a number such as to provide a stable anionic metal carbonyl for {[QM(CO)x]w-}y and ranges from 1 to 9 and typically from 1 to 4).
GETZLER YUTAN D Y L
WOLCZANSKI PETER
MAHADEVAN VISWANATH
Takaaki Yasumura
Natsuki Morishita