Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Synthesis of Benzyl Benzoates Employing Benzyl Formates as Both CO Surrogates and Benzyl Alcohol Sources

An efficient and convenient palladium‐catalyzed carbonylation reaction for the synthesis of benzyl benzoates from aryl bromides has been developed. Benzyl formates have been explored as a new type of efficient and useful CO sources and also reaction partners. A wide range of benzyl benzoates was obtained in good to excellent yields.