Covalently Bound Benzyl Ligand Promotes Selective Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Esterification of Aldehydes with Alcohols

It's a benzyl kind of magic: In the title reaction proceeding with benzyl chloride as the oxidant, the benzyl group serves as a carbon ligand, thus having an η3-coordination effect on palladium (see scheme). A variety of aldehydes and alcohols were selectively converted into the corresponding esters in good to excellent yields.