Carbonylation of Alcohols, Olefins, and Saturated Hydrocarbons by CO in the Ag(I)–H2SO4 System

In the presence of an Ag carbonyl-ion catalyst, prepared in situ from the Ag compound and carbon monoxide in H2SO4, olefins or alcohols reacted with carbon monoxide at room temperature and atmospheric pressure to produce exclusively tertiary carboxylic acids in high yields. The amount of Ag compound sufficient for carrying out the reaction is ca. 0.2 mol/l. The optimum reaction temperature is 0–40°C. The reaction proceeds practically at above a 90% H2SO4 concentration. Saturated hydrocarbons, containing a tertiary hydrogen, also reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of alcohols or olefins as carbonium ion precursors, thus producing tertiary carboxylic acids.