Palladium-catalyzed selective alkoxycarbonylation of α,β-unsaturated amides: a novel approach toward new ω-amido esters and N-substituted cyclic succinimides

The alkoxycarbonylation of α,β-unsaturated amides proceeded efficiently and regioselectivity to give ω-amido esters with complete conversion in the presence of the catalyst system: Pd(PPh3)2Cl2/MeOH/CO/H2O. The reaction was successfully applied to the alkoxycarbonylation of bis-acrylamides yielding, selectively, the corresponding di-ω-amido esters. These mono and di-ω-amido esters have been used as precursors for the synthesis of N-substituted cyclic succinimides in moderate to high yields.