Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of Olefins with CO2: One-Pot Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acid Salts

The nickel-catalyzed direct carboxylation of alkenes with the cheap and abundantly available C-1 building block carbon dioxide (CO2) in the presence of a base has been achieved. The one-pot reaction allows for the direct and selective synthesis of a wide range of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylates (TON>100, TOF up to 6 h(-1), TON=turnover number, TOF=turnover frequency). Thus, it is possible, in one step, to synthesize sodium acrylate from ethylene, CO2, and a sodium salt. Acrylates are industrially important products, the synthesis of which has hitherto required multiple steps.