Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of 1,1‘-Bis(diphenylphosphino)osmocene: Palladium(II) Complexes and Their Use as Catalysts in the Methoxycarbonylation of Olefins

The new ligand 1,1‘-bis(diphenylphosphino)osmocene (dppo) forms a variety of palladium(II) complexes showing either the κ2P,P or κ3Os,P,P bonding mode. The complex [Pd(OTs)(dppo)]OTs (OTs = p-toluenesulfonate) is an effective catalyst precursor for the selective methoxycarbonylation of ethylene to methyl propanoate and of styrene to a mixture of methyl 3-phenylpropanoate and methyl 2-phenylpropanoate.