Catalytic hydrochlorination of acetylene on mechanochemically-activated K2PdCl4

We report the catalysis of the hydrochlorination of acetylene on the surface of dry K2PdCl4 subjected to prior mechanical activation in an atmosphere of acetylene or propylene. The stereochemistry of the reaction corresponds to trans addition of the halogen and hydrogen atoms to the C-C triple bond. The hydrogen halide is the source of the halogen atom in the reaction product. The mechanical activation of K2PdCl4, in contrast to the case of K2PtCl4, is also capable of activating the C-C double bond: propylene is hydrochlorinated under similar conditions to isopropyl chloride.