A novel chelation-assisted hydroesterification of alkenes via ruthenium catalysis.

An efficient and catalytic protocol of hydroesterification of alkenes has been developed without a need for CO atmosphere. With the introduction of the 2-pyridyl moiety as a chelating group in formate, Ru3(CO)12-catalyzed activation of the formyl C-H bond of formate and subsequent addition of the intermediate to alkenes proceeded with almost complete suppression of decarbonylation. Stereoselectivity of the produced one-carbon elongated esters was good to excellent for the formation of the linear adduct depending on the bulkiness of the alkenes used. This procedure could be readily applied to a variety of olefins such as terminal, internal, cyclic, bicyclic, vinyl ether, and conjugated enone systems with high efficiency and selectivity. It was also amenable to a solvent-free condition. On the basis of the chelation-driven C-H bond activation of formate, a putative mechanism of the Ru-catalyzed hydroesterification of 2-pyridylmethyl formate has been proposed.