Highly active and selective palladium catalyst for hydroesterification of styrene and vinyl acetate promoted by polymeric sulfonic acids.

Highly efficient, selective and recyclable palladium catalyst systems for hydroesterification of styrene and vinyl acetate were realized by using 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)benzene as ligand and polymeric sulfonic acids of limited SO(3)H loadings as promoter.