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.