Impregnated palladium on magnetite as a water compatible catalyst for the cycloisomerization of alkynoic acid derivatives

Abstract

This work describes the catalytic activity of palladium(II) species in the cycloisomerization of alkynoic acids and their derivatives in aqueous media as well as in Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), with one of the lowest metal catalyst loadings reported so far in the literature. Different substrates such as terminal and internal alkynes or alkynyl sulfonylimides were studied, obtaining selectivity either to the cyclic compound or the hydrolysed keto derivative. This new system avoids the use of harmful solvents and employs very efficient and recoverable heterogeneous catalysts.