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The carbonylation of styrene with carbon monoxide and ethanol was investigated in the presence of diphosphine palladium complexes Pd[Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2]Cl2(n=1–6,10). Ethyl 3-phenylpropionate was obtained significantly when the phosphines (n=3,4,5) were used. The predominant isomer in the case of the phosphines (n=l,6,10) was ethyl 2-phenylpropionate similar to the mono-dentate phosphines, such as Ph3P and Ph2PBu.

Reaction of a new hydroesterification catalyst H2Co3Py5(CO)9with 2-vinylpyridine yielded an alkylcobalt complex (Remark: Graphics omitted.), which is considered to be an intermediate complex in the hydroesterification of 2-vinylpyridine. The 13C-NMR parameters of the α- and β-methylene groups were δ=60.0 ppm (JC-H=147 Hz) and 37.4 ppm (132 Hz), respectively.