Efficient oxidative carbonylation of iPrOH to oxalate catalyzed by Pd(II)-PPh3 complexes using benzoquinone as a stoichiometric oxidant

The catalytic system formed in situ from trans-[PdBr2(PPh3)2]/Base/PPh3/LiBr is highly active and selective in the oxidative carbonylation of iPrOH to the corresponding oxalate using benzoquinone as a stoichiometric oxidant. The influence of each component in the catalytic system is discussed. A catalytic cycle is proposed.