Application of a Batch Microwave Unit for Scale-Up of Alkoxycarbonylation Reactions Using a Near-Stoichiometric Loading of Carbon Monoxide

The ethoxycarbonylation of iodobenzene was performed on the 1 mol scale in batch mode using microwave heating. The reaction was performed using both an excess and a near stoichiometric loading of carbon monoxide, comparable yields being obtained. Six different alkoxycarbonylation reactions were then performed simultaneously on the 50 mmol scale using a near-stoichiometric loading of carbon monoxide with excellent conversions in each case.