Palladium- and Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of Sodium Acrylate from Ethylene, CO2, and Phenolate Bases: Optimization of the Catalytic System for a Potential Process

The synthesis of sodium acrylate through catalytic carboxylation of ethylene with CO2 in the presence of a base is a reaction of high interest. To develop a more efficient and sustainable method to access this valuable acrylate monomer, we optimized the system in a one-step homogeneous nickel- or palladium-catalyzed reaction, without the need for stoichiometric amounts of an additional reducing agent. Suitable nontoxic solvents such as anisole instead of the previously reported tetrahydrofuran or chlorobenzene were found to lead to acrylate formation. In combination with appropriate phenolate bases, this could allow a rational process concept for a simple catalyst recycling, product separation, and base regeneration.