Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Anti-Markovnikov Oxidation of Aliphatic Alkenes to Terminal Acetals.

Terminal acetals were selectively synthesized from various unbiased aliphatic terminal alkenes and 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-diols using a PdCl2(MeCN)2/CuCl catalyst system in the presence of p-toluquinone under 1 atm of O2 and mild reaction conditions. The slow addition of terminal alkenes suppressed the isomerization to internal alkenes successfully. Electron-deficient cyclic alkenes, such as p-toluquinone, were key additives to enhance the catalytic activity and the anti-Markovnikov selectivity. The halogen groups in the alkenes were found to operate as directing groups, suppressing isomerization and increasing the selectivity efficiently.