Pd(OH)₂/C, a Practical and Efficient Catalyst for the Carboxylation of Benzylic Bromides with Carbon Monoxide

A simple, efficient, cheap, and broadly applicable system for the carboxylation of benzylic bromides with carbon monoxide and water is reported. Upon simple reaction with only 2.5 wt % of Pearlman’s catalyst and 10 mol % of tetrabutylammonium bromide in tetrahydrofuran at 110 °C for 4 h, a range of benzylic bromides can be smoothly converted to the corresponding arylacetic acids in good to excellent yields after simple extraction and acid–base wash. The reaction was found to be broadly applicable, scalable, and could be successfully extended to the use of ex situ-generated carbon monoxide and applied to the synthesis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac.