PdCl2/PS-Phenol Co-catalyzed Acetalization of Methyl Acrylate with Methanol in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

PdCl2/polystyrene-supported phenol (PS-phenol) was presented as a cocatalyst for the acetalization of methyl acrylate with methanol in supercritical carbon dioxide under oxygen atmosphere. After methyl acrylate was completely converted, the highest yield and selectivity for methyl 3,3-dimethoxypropanoate were 97.7% and 100%, respectively. Compared with small molecular acidic co-catalysts, the separation of PS-phenol from the reaction system by simple filtration made the recycling of precious palladium practical and convenient.