Following palladium catalyzed methoxycarbonylation by hyperpolarized NMR spectroscopy:A: para hydrogen based investigation

Pd(OTf)2(bcope) is shown to react in methanol solution with diphenylacetylene, carbon monoxide and hydrogen to produce the methoxy-carbonylation product methyl 2,3 diphenyl acrylate alongside cis- and trans-stilbene. In situ NMR studies harnessing the parahydrogen induced polarization effect reveal substantially enhanced 1H NMR signals in both protic and aprotic solvents for a series of reaction intermediates that play a direct role in this homogeneous transformation. Exchange spectroscopy (EXSY) measurements reveal that the corresponding CO adducts are less reactive than their methanol counterparts.