Regioselectivity inversion tuned by iron(iii) salts in palladium-catalyzed carbonylations.

Impactful regioselectivity control is crucial for cost-effective chemical synthesis. By using cheap and abundant iron(iii) salts, the hydroxycarbonylations of both aromatic and aliphatic alkenes were significantly enhanced in both reactivity and selectivity (iso/n or n/iso up to >99 : 1). Moreover, Pd-catalyzed carbonylation selectivity can be switched from branched to linear by using different Fe(iii) salts. In addition, similar results were obtained for the carbonylation of secondary alcohols.