Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2-phenylsuccinate

Succinic acid esters are important compounds that find many applications in various industrial fields. One of the most promising and easy ways producing these molecules is represented by bis-alkoxycarbonylation reaction olefins. In particular, a recently developed catalytic system, consisting an aryl ?-diimine/palladium(II) catalyst p-benzoquinone as oxidant, has allowed succinates to be obtained high yields. A similar methodology was applied here for unprecedented synthesis bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2-phenylsuccinate 78% isolated yield, starting from cheap commercially available styrene ethylene glycol. To our knowledge, no other examples bis-alkoxycarbonylations olefins involving diols have been reported thus far. The product fully characterized NMR ESI-MS analyses.