Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Carbonylative Transformation of Benzyl Aryl Carbonates: Direct Synthesis of Aryl 2-Arylacetates.

A procedure on palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative alkoxycarbonylation of carbonates for the synthesis of aryl 2-arylacetates has been developed. A broad range of aryl 2-arylacetates were obtained in good yields under mild conditions under a carbon monoxide atmosphere. Interestingly, other alcohols can be added as nucleophiles as well, and the corresponding esters were also obtained in good yields.