Adapting a Wacker-type catalyst system to the palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of aliphatic polyols

Polyols, which can be obtained readily from bio-feedstock, are converted efficiently into their corresponding cyclic carbonates by using a Wacker-type Pd/Mn catalyst system. A fine tuned redox cascade is essential in ensuring a high productivity of the Pd catalyst in the oxidative carbonylation reaction. Turnover numbers up to 784 mol(product)/mol(palladium) were achieved.