Reactions of 1,3-Dienes with Acrylates by Means of Transition Metal Complex Catalysts

The reactions of 1,3-dienes with acrylates by the use of catalyst systems composed of transition-metal acetylacetonates and triethylaluminum were studied. Butadiene and isoprene react with acrylates to give hepta-2, 5-dienoates and 5- or 6-methylhepta-2, 5-dienoates respectively, by means of the binary catalyst system consisting of cobalt (III) or iron (III) acetylacetonate and triethylaluminum. The effects on this reaction of changing the catalyst concentration, the molar ratio of triethylaluminum to the transition-metal acetylacetonates, and the mixing order of the reagents were examined, as was the difference in catalytic activities between cobalt and iron catalyst systems.