Optimization Studies on the Hydro-acylation of 1-Alkenes to α-Methylketones using a Homogeneous Palladium/Josiphos Catalyst

The effect of process conditions (temperature, partial pressures of CO and H2) on the product selectivity and ee of the palladium-catalysed asymmetric hydro-acylation of 1-pentene in dichloromethane with the chiral Josiphos ligand (SL-J008-1, L1) was investigated. The highest ee value (73%) for the desired product 4-methyl-5-decanone (1) was obtained at the lowest temperature in the range (30 °C). The selectivity for 1 was between 12 and 20 mol % at 30 °C, though considerably higher at 90 °C (59 mol %). Statistical modeling was applied to quantify the influence of the process conditions on the product selectivity and ee.