Manganese-Catalyzed Alkoxycarbonylation of Alkyl Chlorides

The carbonylative transformation of alkyl chlorides, a class of cheap chemical feedstock, is among the most challenging tasks in the field of carbonylation due to the difficulty of C(sp³)–Cl bond activation. Herein, we report the catalytic alkoxycarbonylation of unactivated alkyl chlorides. This method employs a pincer manganese catalyst to overcome the intrinsic limitations of C(sp³)–Cl bond activation and allows access to various esters in a straightforward manner. Mechanistic studies indicate that the alkyl chlorides were activated directly via an oxidative addition reaction.